Obtaining permission requires you to contact the copyright holder. If you know the author and publisher, you can visit the publisher's Web site and view their copyright permissions information. For example, visit the Prentice Hall permission's page. In general, permission should be sought at least two months prior to using the copyrighted material.
You may be required to write a letter, send e-mail or fax. See additional permissions sites and sample letters from College of DuPage.
Obtaining permission to photocopy book chapters, journal articles, and material for library reserves, can also be sought by visiting the Copyright Clearance Center. Just click through the permissions online. In addition to the service charge, you pay a royalty fee set and paid to the copyright holder.
If you do not know the author or publisher, see the University of Texas' permissions Web site web site for more information.
Need help finding the right contact? Try this Source and Permission Contact List provided by the National Archives.
Obtaining permission to use a video or music clip is sought in a similar way. See the Warner Music Group FAQ. Notice the question, "I want to use a song by a Warner Music Group artist in my project. How do I obtain the necessary rights?" For another example see the Vanguard Records website's ABOUT page. Note the Vanguard email for licensing information and requests. See the "MGM Clip+Still Licensing" webpage for movie clip and licensing information.
If you are using a clip from a DVD or video stream, to create a new work, you’ll need to ask permission to use a clip. Usually 30 seconds is all that is allowed in Fair Use. Remember, the library has access to thousands of licensed streaming videos that can be linked (in full) to Blackboard. At the Prelinger Archives you can find royalty free videos, acquired by the Library of Congress. If you use anything from the Prelinger Archives, you still need to attribute the clip in your work.
A Public Performace License allows for showing an entire video at a campus event. (Your classroom does not require public performance rights. See the Fair Use section of this website to determine whether or not a classroom use requires permission.) Some of the library's DVDs include Public Performance Rights, meaning the license has been paid for by the library upon purchase of the DVD. All of the library's DVDs published by Bullfrog Films, Films for the Humanities and Sciences, and New Day Films, for example, include Public Performance Rights. Colleges planning events that include video viewing should contact Swank Motion Pictures to buy a one-time viewing license.
