Public Relations Resources

U.S. and international laws have complex relationships with the publications and work product of media professionals and also with academics and journalists who analyze communications media.  Further complexity enters if one operates within scholarly, educational, and not for profit environments.  This guide in not a comprehensive primer on copyright law, fair use of copyrighted publications and the like.  Nevertheless, most scholars, journalists and media managers will at one time or another encounter questions in this area, or perhaps even conflicts.  Here are a few resources public communications librarian, Michael Pasqualoni, invites you to consider.

SU Libraries Copyright Guide:  Provides educational information to the Syracuse University community about copyright and other laws, policies, and regulations that govern information creation, use, retention and adaptation for scholarly purposes. The Portal also provides guidance and direction to the University community on issues such as:

• Authorship and protection of scholarship;
• Copyright ownership, including its rights and obligations;
• Limitations and exceptions, such as fair use;
• Licensing of electronic resources and media; and
• Use of copyrighted works

All the Guide's  information is educational. None of the information should be considered formal legal advice.

• U.S. Copyright Office - Information Circulars and Factsheets Website
  *See especially, Circular 1, entitled "Copyright Basics" and More Information on Fair Use, U.S. Copyright Office
   
• Anderson, R. (2016, August 16).  The Difference between Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism—and Why It Matters. Library Journal
  *understanding the differences
• Copyright Crash Course - University of Texas at Austin
  *especially helpful for those examining copyright in academic environments.
• Bound By Law (2006) Keith Aoki, James Boyle, Jennifer Jenkins - Center for the Study of the Public Domain, Duke University
  *Uses a comic book format to address the complexities of copyright and fair use of content as experienced by a hypothetical independent filmmaker.
   

Created in 2007 by Eric Faden, Assoc Professor of English & Film/Media Studies, Bucknell University.  A creative exploration of copyright principles that uses remixed animation. Identical version is hosted by Center for Internet & Society, Stanford University Law School

Com Librarian Online Video Find:  Remix Culture - Fair Use is Your Friend (5/09)  A production of the Center for Media & Social Impact (fka:  Center for Social Media), American University.  This video intends to educate about the complex topic of fair use for copyrighted materials.  It is possible to create dynamic and culturally relevant video productions, works that incorporate pre-existing creations made by others.  With the balanced approach advocated in this video, the argument highlighted is one can indeed do so without running afoul of Copyright law.   See also the Center's Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video and their broader "Codes of Best Practices" website, offering sets of "Fair Use" codes applicable to journalism, the arts and media professions.