(Media Education Foundation - mef - Challenging Media Presents A Fair(y) Use Tale - a short film by Eric Faden
"FBI - WARNING Federal law allows citizens to reproduce, distribute or exhibit portions of copyrighted motion pictures, video tapes, or video discs under certain circumstances without authorization of the copyright holder."
"This infringement of copyright is called "Fair Use" and is allowed for purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching and parody."
"The following film is not associated with, authorized by, or should be confused with any product produced by:"
(Music)
"Walt Disney Pictures"
(Book cover with "Copyright Law")
(Book opens: "Chapter 1: Copyright Definition")
(Cartoon characters speak in turn)
What the heck is copyright?
What?
Hey, what the heck is copy copy copy
go to the right, right right right right
It's that law that's the problem.
You know the law!
That stupid law!
Hey! What the heck is copyright?
I'll tell you!
Copyright is a permanently affixed original mark.
What?!
a permanently fixed original mark.
In some form
that can be seen or heard
Oooh
Now listen, this is important:
only the copyright owner has the right to use their work
It's mine!
How can that be?
That's not fair!
It's forbidden to use a copyright work without permission granted by the copyright owner.
And - and everybody who's fool enough to threaten our copyright has broken the law.
Aren't we forgetting one teensy weensy but ever so crucial tiny detail?
You'd better be able to pay for that copyright permission!
We haven't discused the subject of payment.
And you can't get something for nothing, you know?
But I don't have -
I'm not asking much; just a token, really, a trifle!
Hold on! Back up! Are you saying
this is about money?
I'm sorry Sir, I don't have any money.
This is extortion!
I prefer the term "capitalist"
Hear this sound? It's the sound of your freedom fluttering out the window.
(Chapter 2: What things can be copyrighted?)
Well, there's the usual things, like:
(Books) I'll borrow this one.
(Plays)
(Music)
(Dance)
(Movies and Pictures) (Unintelligible mumbling)
On 3! 1, 2.... (Gasp!)
No,no,no, wait!
Listen carefully
You can't copyright an idea.
Yes, I can
You can't.
Yes.
can -can't - can - cant!
But why?
Culture.
It would be unwise to limit the power of a great idea.
So we can only copyright the form an idea takes.
But what does have that to do with me?
No no, he's got a point.
(Chapter 3: Copyright Duration & the Public Domain)
The law says copyright only lasts for a fixed amount of time.
For example, copyright used to last just 14 years.
What?!
Copyright used to last only 14 years.
We know - You know - I know -
I got it
I got the concept
A culture - culture - that was long enough for a copyright owner
to make money from their work.
Ohh!
After just 14 years, that work fell into the public domain.
So anyone could use the work.
Hey, what the heck is the Public Domain?
(Silence ) ...Anyone? [someone coughs]
The Public Domain is a disgrace to the forces of evil!
What are you saying, exactly?
A work in the public domain is free for anyone to use.
Can you do that?
Yes. It's essential, because a culture creates new ideas
by building on earlier works.
Ah! So the Public Domain is necessary for a living, thriving society.
Duh.
Unfortunately, copyright keeps getting longer
and there seems to be no limitation on how long copyright lasts.
It's called a cruel irony.
For example [coughs] copyright now lasts a lifetime plus 70 years. Years?!
And for a company, copyright lasts over a hundred years
So copyright lasts more like forever.
But this is just - oh my, would you explain how ridiculous this is?
It's totally preposterous!
(Chapter 4: Fair Use)
Hey, what the heck is Fair Use?
so you might want to remind me again.
Hey what the heck is fair use?
[underwater noises]
This might sound crazy, but there, there are limitations on Copyright.
(Everyone gasps)
Is this possible?!
Yes. Copyright may be broken, but it's slippery [giggles]
You can borrow a small amount of a copyright work
to:
(Teach) I'm gonna teach that guy a lesson.
(News Reporting) "to be believed there has been a child security breach"
(Parody) "From the lamp, right here for your very much wish fulfillment."
(Critical Comment) It is my professional opinion that now is the time...
But how do I know if it's fair use?
There are certain rules that demonstrate fair use.
(NATURE) OK, first of all, it's the nature of the work borrowed.
(Amount) Second of all, it's the amount you borrowed.
(Commercial impact) Oh, and there is one more thing.
It has to be something that doesn't change the original work's value
in the market place.
Attention, everyone! This is important.
It's like I always say: Fair Use is not a right
but, but, what is it?
Fair Use is only a legal defensible position.
And this is not fair!
(Chapter 5: Why use Disney Cartoons?)
Because this company - company - company - company
is intimidating anybody who takes a copyright work.
If you're going to threaten me, do it properly!
The point is, if Fair Use actually works,
then movies like this one will have legal protection.
And that concludes our broadacast day,
(Static)
What was that?
I have no idea.
Copyright Law (Music playing)
(A Fair(y) Use Tale, directed by Eric Faden based on an idea by Craig Stauffenberg)
(Collaborators: Saskia Madlener, Janine Merolla, Craig Stauffenberg, Reanna Trunk, David Lopera)
(edited by Eric Faden and Victoria Bucek, music: "Rose Leaf Rag" (S. Joplin, 1907) arranged by Rick Benjamin)
(performed by The Paragon Orchestra, used with permission background art work by Hope LeVan)
(special thanks to Jason Snyder, Nancy Haupt, Anthony Falzone, Lawrence Lessig and the Stanford Fair Use Project)
sources: Aladdin (Dir. Ron Clements & John Musker, 1992, Disney ©)
Alice in Wonderland (Dir. Clyde Geronimo & Wilfred Jackson, 1951, Disney ©)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (dir. Gary Trouwdale & Kirk Wise, 2001, Disney ©)
Bambi (dir. Ben Sharpsteen, 1941, Disney ©)
Beauty and the Beast (dir. Gary Trouwdale & Kirk Wise, 1991, Disney ©)
Dumbo (Dir. Brett Sharsteen, 1941, Disney ©)
The Emperor'y New Groove (dir. Mark Dinda, 2001, Disney ©)
Finding Nemo (dir. Andrew Stanton & Lee Uelrich, 2003, Pixar/Disney ©)
The Hunchback of Botre Dame (dir. Gary Trouwdale & Kirk Wise, 1996, Disney ©)
The Incredibles (Dir Brad Kirk, 2004, Pixar Disney ©)
The Jungle Book (dir. Wolfgang Reithermann, 1997, Disney ©)
Lilo And Stitch (dir. Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders, 2002, Disney ©)
The Lion King (dir Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff, 1994, Disney ©)
The Little Mermaid (dir Ron Clements & John Musket, 1989, Disney ©)
Monsters, Inc. (dir. Peter Doctor & Davide Silvermanm 2001, Pixar/Disney ©)
Mulan (dir.Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook, 1998, Disney ©) (9:49)
101 Dalmatiens (dir. Clyde Geronimi & Hamilton Luske, 1969, Disney ©)
Peter Pan (dir. Clyde Geronimi & Wilfred Jackson, 1953, Disney ©)
Pinoocchio (dir. Hamilton Luske & Ben Sharpsten, 1940, Disney ©)
Sleeping Beauty (dir. Clyde Geronimo, 1959, Disney ©)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937, Disney ©)
Tarzan (dir. Chris Bock & Kevin Lima, 1994, Disney ©)
Tarzan II (dir. Brian Smith, 2005, Disney ©)
Toy Story (dir. John Lasseter & Ash Brannon, 1999, Pixar/Disney ©)
Treasure Planet (dir. Ron Clements & John Musker, 2002, Disney ©)
Woohoo! I hope to get a copy of THAT tape!