Critical Studies

Copyright law is a carefully balanced system meant to encourage creativity as well as cultural and scientific progress.
The law encourages authors by giving them limited control over certain uses of their works, and it encourages everyone (including authors) to use existing cultural and scientific material without permission, under certain circumstances, to engage in a wide variety of vital activities. Many parts of the law favor the freedom to use culture, but by far and away the most flexible, powerful,
and universal user’s right is fair use. As you’ll see below fair use is a right, fair use is vitally important, fair use is for everyone, and fair uses are everywhere

Part I of this document provides a primer on copyright law. Part II addresses specific issues that may be relevant to development of an institutional copyright policy.This document has been prepared by the Association of American Publishers, the Association of American Universities, the Association of American University Presses, and the Association of Research Libraries; and has been endorsed by the American Council on Education and the Authors Guild.

"The Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), based at American University's School of Communication, is a creative innovation lab and research center that creates, studies, and showcases media for equity, social change, and social justice. Focusing on independent, documentary, and entertainment media, the Center bridges boundaries between scholars, producers and communication practitioners across media industries, social justice, public policy, and public engagement. The Center produces resources for the field and academic research; creates original media; convenes conferences and events; and works collaboratively to understand and design media that matter."

From Duke University.

"Blog from UMUC's (University of Maryland University College) Center for Intellectual Property (CIP). The purpose of Collectanea is to provide an opportunity for CIP's virtual scholar to share his/her thoughts, musings, and ideas on intellectual property (IP) law, policy, and culture. Further, to her thoughts on the breaking developments that influence IP now and in the future."

"The Copyright Alliance believes that copyright law promotes creativity and job creation and strengthens the U.S. economy. Those who create, render, and publish copyrighted works rely on the copyright law and its enforcement, for their creative and financial success. Without it, these creators would likely cease to exist, or at the very least, cease to produce these important works that are enjoyed by billions of people around the world."

A respected and comprehensive resource from the Stanford University Libraries.

Brief, selective "travel guide" to books on copyright, representing both sides of the argument. From the Chronicle of Higher Education

"Critical Commons is a non-profit advocacy coalition that supports the use of media for scholarship, reasearch and teaching, providing resources, information and tools for scholars, students, educators and creators." Includes "an online tool for viewing, tagging, sharing, annotating and curating media within the guidelines established by a given community."

Nolo Press is a large publisher of "plain english legal information."

The Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center has a website with a blog listing significant new fair use cases, called the Fairly Used Blog. It also links to other blogs on the subject.

Archived copy of an Educause webinar. In this EDUCAUSE Live! we will discuss ethics and strategies for overcoming institutional roadblocks related to publishing and teaching with copyrighted media. As fair use protections and potentials continue to expand, how can nonspecialists help shape a more rational future for fair use? Topics will include the myths and realities of fair use, best practices, DMCA exemptions, and the practicalities of working with copyrighted media..."

By Jane Ginsburg, posted on the Social Science Research Network.

The law.

Blog created by a law professor, Peter Friedman. He stopped adding new entries in April 2008, but it's interesting to look through the archived posts.