how to copyright a video course

by Kyleigh Conroy 8 min read

Here are the simple 5 steps to copyright a video and retain video rights to your content with the U.S. Copyright Office:

  • Go to the Electronic Copyright Office website and click on “Log in to eCO.”
  • Sign up by choosing a username and password.
  • Fill out an electronic form registering your video.
  • Upload a copy of the video file and attach it to your completed form. You can...

Full Answer

How do I copyright a video?

Here are the simple 5 steps to copyright a video and retain video rights to your content with the U.S. Copyright Office: Go to the Electronic Copyright Office website and click on “Log in to eCO.” Sign up by choosing a username and password. Fill out an electronic form registering your video.

What about copyright in the online course environment?

Things get quite complicated relating to copyright in the online course environment. One complication arises from the DMCA. The DMCA protects intellectual property owners who place digital lock protection devices onto DVDs and other discs to stop consumers from making copies of the works.

Are there copyright implications of teaching with videos?

And so, as librarians or faculty, we need to think through the copyright implications of teaching with videos. When teaching in a classroom face-to-face with students, the law provides educators with a straightforward exception to copyright in Section 110 (1) of the U.S. Copyright Act.

What are the characteristics of a video copyright?

For example, video is automatically copyrighted from the moment it is created, so these things automatically apply. These characteristics include exclusivity, designation, duration of protection, limitations on applicability, and international adherence.

How do you copyright a training video?

How to copyright a video in the U.S.Register with the Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) here.Fill out the electronic form provided to you.Either upload a copy of your video to attach it to your application form or submit it by mail on a CD.Pay a $35 processing fee.

Can you copyright a training course?

Copyright versus Trademark may help clarify things for you. For instance, you can't copyright the title of your book. But if you have a training or group program with the same name as your book, you can trademark that program title. You can trademark a logo or a business name, but you can't copyright them.

How do I protect my online course content?

How to Protect Your Online Course Videos and ContentDisabling Copy and Right-Click. The easiest and most common approach is disabling copy your content. ... Disable Direct URL Access from . htaccess. ... Use Watermark on Your Videos. ... Video Sharing Services. ... Tools to Check Plagiarized Content.

How can I protect my video copyright?

Put YouTube copyright disclaimer. According to the rule, the most useful step for protecting your video you need to register your final work in the U.S. Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov). This action of yours will prevent others from copying your valuable work without your permission.

How do I protect my course content?

Here are 11 ways to protect the intellectual property of your online course content:Get a Trademark. ... Print & mail your content to yourself. ... Time stamp your content. ... Show your face. ... Watermark your content. ... Make it common knowledge. ... Keep an eye out for duplicates of your content. ... Have a Copyright Policy.More items...•

Are udemy courses copyrighted?

Ultimately, Udemy cannot advise on any copyright issue and takes no responsibility for the material that you place on our platform. Remember that you retain the rights to all of the content that you place on Udemy and that we are simply the platform through which you deliver that material.

Can you copyright your online course?

It's possible for anyone who creates an online course to unknowingly infringe on copyrighted material merely by incorporating content from the internet or paper-based resources. This article provides an outline of copyright infringement as it pertains to the creation of online courses.

How do I protect my youtube videos from being stolen?

0:497:43YouTube Copyright Match Tool (How To Stop Stolen Videos ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then you can report. And then you could say infringes my rights. And then you can just fill thisMoreAnd then you can report. And then you could say infringes my rights. And then you can just fill this out submit it to YouTube. They will review it and if it is someone who actually stole.

How can we stop piracy of courses?

Choose Your Distribution Channels Wisely. As an online content creator, you have two options. To sell the courses directly through your website or to sell it through course aggregators like Udemy, Coursera etc. Most course aggregators have an inhouse team for fighting piracy.

Should you license your video?

Copyright laws (and the general concept of intellectual property) exist to protect creatives. So licensing videos works just like finding images, fonts, music, or sound effects. If you are using something that someone else created, you'll need to license it.

Can you copyright for free?

No copyright registration is needed to protect your writing, and no fee is required. Although registering your copyright is voluntary, there are reasons you might want to take that step.

Do you need to register copyright?

No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work.

What Is Copyright and What Does It Cover?

When an original work is created in a physical medium, the person automatically owns the copyright to that work. In specific ways, this provides the copyright owner with an exclusive right to use the work.

Why Copyright Your Video?

Copyrighting is a form of intellectual property law that is designed to protect authorship of original works. The copyright owner enjoys several valuable rights — using, reproducing and selling copies; creating derivative works; transmitting work via other mediums; and selling or passing rights to another person.

How to Copyright Your Video

Your video is copyrighted as soon as it is created and fixed in a copy such as online or on a DVD. In the United States, all elements of the video are protected by one copyright. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, you should place a statement of copyright ownership on or near the title screen — use either the word copyright or the symbol.

Copyright and the Internet

Material (such as online videos) found on the internet is subject to copyright protection. Licenses such as Creative Commons are a popular way to govern how online images and videos are legally distributed.

What Is Fair Use?

Usage that is covered under the concept of “Fair Use” (also called fair practice and fair dealing) can allow reuse of copyright-protected material without the copyright owner’s permission in some specific circumstances — for example, as part of news reporting in many cases. The “Fair Use” rules differ widely from one country to another.

What Is Creative Commons?

A Creative Commons (CC) license allows creative works to be distributed on a limited basis without sacrificing the copyright owner’s legal protections. This license is not designed to be a “how to get around copyright” strategy — in fact, it is firmly built upon the underlying foundation of a copyright.

What Cannot Be Copyrighted?

Some things cannot be copyrighted — processes, facts, ideas, names and titles are five examples that are not subject to copyright protection. This is why multiple books and movies can legally have the same title. But copyrighting is also not your only form of legal protection.

Video on Course Websites

University of Michigan instructors can share videos with their students by using MiVideo, which is integrated into Canvas. The Library Digital Films Service offers assistance streaming licensed films.

When to Use a Work on a Course Website

University of Michigan policy allows instructors to make their own decisions about posting materials on course websites, such as Canvas sites. Often, those decisions involve legal questions about copyright. The guidelines below are meant to assist instructors in making these decisions.

MiVideo

In Canvas, MiVideo manifests as the Course Media Gallery, My Media (your personal media repository in your Canvas profile), and the Embed Media button in the rich text editor. On Canvas, you can manage the scope of access to videos, and you can edit, publish, and track your media in one place.

Why do faculty use video clips?

There are many pedagogical reasons faculty members choose to teach using video clips or even by showing full-length movies to their students during class. Often, it’s one thing to tell the students about a particular event and a very different experience for the students to watch either a documentary about or a fictional rendition of it. ...

What is the short portion requirement in the copyright exemption?

Copyright Office, in enacting the “short portion” requirement in the exemption, sought to mimic the fair use doctrine’s requirements of small amounts of works used without permission so long as they don’t usurp the market value for the original work.

Can you copy a movie from a DVD?

Generally, the DMCA and the Copyright Act would be violated by making a copy of a DVD of a movie. In the face-to-face teaching context, no copy is necessary, because the professor can easily pop in the DVD and play the entire movie for the class (or fast forward to specific parts of the movie for quick viewing).

Can a professor show only clips of a movie?

If the professor wishes, however , to show only clips of the movie during face-to-face classroom teaching, they would not be within the Section 110 (1) exception because in order to make the clips the professor would need to break the technological locks (if any) on the DVD, and make a copy of the DVD’s contents.

Can a professor borrow a DVD?

Or, if the library owns a copy of the DVD, the professor could borrow the library’s copy of the movie and show it during class. Section 110 (1) is a limited exception to copyright in that it only permits the use of copyrighted works in the face-to-face classroom. However, it is also a fairly broad exception in that it permits both teachers ...

Is DMCA fair use?

Fair Use. While the above exception does permit both the technological locks to be broken and a copy to be made in some circumstances, the DMCA doesn’t operate in a legal vacuum. Just as fair use can operate in tandem with Section 108 (exceptions for libraries), so too can it operate in conjunction with the DMCA.

What is the copyright exemption for distance learning?

The TEACH ACT in the Copyright Act provides the special exemption for distance learning activities. Even if you cannot meet all of the TEACH Act requirements, you may still rely on fair use. Fair use could apply but you must weigh all the four factors of fair use and assess the risk.

What is Harvard copyright first responder?

The Harvard Library Copyright First Responders is a network of specially trained library staff who can advise you on fair use, licensing, and help you find freely available materials (in cases where fair use is unlikely to apply).

Can you record a Zoom lecture?

Recording your own Zoom classes in which you screen a video or other media. If you choose to record your lecture, there are some considerations if you are including copyrighted content (movies, media, etc.) within the lecture itself. Provided that the recording of your class lecture is both password protected and only accessible to students ...

Is it legal to play audio on a computer at Harvard?

§110 (1)) which is about face-to-face teaching. However, that exemption doesn't cover playing the same media online. For this online teaching with media there are specialized options:

Does Harvard Library have streaming?

Beyond Harvard Library's institutional streaming sources, sometimes standard commercial streaming options like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, AppleTV, and Disney+ and others may be the easiest option. For the most part, these providers do not offer institutional accounts, so the Library cannot cover the cost of their services.

How long does it take to get copyrighted?

If you file your copyright registration within 90 days of your content creation, you can bring a claim to the US Federal Court, and you can also file for statutory damages.

Did someone steal my ecourse?

Yep–someone had stolen his e-course, and was now selling his work at a drastically lowered price. He was shocked, and even angry, which was understandable. After all, it’s awful to find out your hard work has been stolen.

What is online course?

Online courses are an excellent way to share your passion and expertise with fellow creatives, and are a great resource for those who wish to learn new skills and pick up new hobbies. You can create an online course to teach almost anything – floristry, musical arrangement, cooking, marketing... As long as you’re passionate ...

Is copyright the best form of protection?

However, to protect the individual elements of your course, then copyright may be the best form of protection. Copyright exists from the moment that your work is put into a tangible form (such as a video or written draft) but can also be registered to garner an additional layer of protection.

Copying and Distribution of Video for Educational Purposes

Guidelines and strategies geared toward Ball State instructors who wish to use film or video in their in-person or online courses.

Streaming in Mediasite

Ball State relies on the Mediasite platform to allow instructors to share streaming video--including lectures and film or video clips--with students.

Find Legal Videos Online

Many films and other video resources are made available legally online. These may be posted directly by the copyright holder, or they may be available through public domain or subscription collections.

Video, Copyright, & Accessibility

Ball State instructors have a legal and ethical responsibility to to ensure that video content is accessible to all enrolled students, including individuals with disabilities. Contact Jeff Bowers in University Media Services to coordinate captioning to adhere to Ball State's University Captioning Policy.

What happens if you can't use public domain?

If you are unable to use public domain or openly licensed (e.g., Creative Commons) materials AND are unable to make a good fair use argument or use another copyright exception, you may need to get permission to reuse all or part of a work.

When do publishers give permission to use their own work?

Publishers are more likely to grant permission when the author is using his or her own work. Therefore, instructors are encouraged, when possible, to use their own work. Publishers are also more likely to grant permission when students are encouraged to buy the work being used.

Is MOOC considered public?

Content developed for an instructor website or a massive open online course (MOOC) are considered visible to the public. Fair use may apply but in a more limited fashion than it does in closed classroom environments, including on campus instruction. Try to create your own content, particularly for images.

Can instructors use public domain content?

Instructors may use content that is in the public domain or licensed for any use, including for-profit purposes, under an appropriate Creative Commons or similar license. In all cases, instructors should make an attribution to the original source in their slides or other class materials.

Do online courses have copyright?

Instructors of online courses do NOT have the same copyright protections as those teaching physical face-to-face courses, so there are extra precautions you must take when creating an online course. Images, videos, audio, and text can all be meaningful additions to your course content.

Is it appropriate to link out a sound file?

It is preferable to link out to a sound file if one is available on the web. In those cases, students would be directed to follow the link, and then return to the lecture. This is especially appropriate when the entirety of a video or audio work must be seen or heard before the lecture will continue.

What is the copyright alliance?

The Copyright Alliance is pleased to provide information about — and links to — a variety of educational workshops and copyright courses for creators, attorneys, companies, and users of copyrighted materials.

What is CCC licensing?

They do so by providing frictionless licensing solutions integrated with software and rights expertise. CCC advocates for copyright through their educational programs, award-winning content, and collaboration with publisher, author and collective management organizations.

image

What Is Copyright and What Does It Cover?

Image
When an original work is created in a physical medium, the person automatically owns the copyright to that work. In specific ways, this provides the copyright owner with an exclusive right to use the work. In addition to protecting the owner, video copyright laws also provide appropriate incentives that allow sharing content and …
See more on videocaddy.com

Why Copyright Your video?

  • Copyrighting is a form of intellectual property law that is designed to protect authorship of original works. The copyright owner enjoys several valuable rights — using, reproducing and selling copies; creating derivative works; transmitting work via other mediums; and selling or passing rights to another person. Even though copyright laws have applied to video works for many year…
See more on videocaddy.com

How to Copyright Your Video

  • Your video is copyrighted as soon as it is created and fixed in a copy such as online or on a DVD. In the United States, all elements of the video are protected by one copyright. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, you should place a statement of copyright ownership on or near the title screen — use either the word copyright or the symbol. Addi...
See more on videocaddy.com

Copyright and The Internet

  • Material (such as online videos) found on the internet is subject to copyright protection. Licenses such as Creative Commons are a popular way to govern how online images and videos are legally distributed. Always check for licensing restrictions if you want to make or distribute copies of work that you find online — when there is no license, don’t use the work until the copyright owne…
See more on videocaddy.com

What Is Fair use?

  • Usage that is covered under the concept of “Fair Use” (also called fair practice and fair dealing) can allow reuse of copyright-protected material without the copyright owner’s permission in some specific circumstances — for example, as part of news reporting in many cases. The “Fair Use” rules differ widely from one country to another. This can be an extremely complex part of copyri…
See more on videocaddy.com

What Is Creative Commons?

  • A Creative Commons (CC) license allows creative works to be distributed on a limited basis without sacrificing the copyright owner’s legal protections. This license is not designed to be a “how to get around copyright” strategy — in fact, it is firmly built upon the underlying foundation of a copyright. For videos, it generally establishes a framework for someone using a video in a non …
See more on videocaddy.com

What Cannot Be Copyrighted?

  • Some things cannot be copyrighted — processes, facts, ideas, names and titles are five examples that are not subject to copyright protection. This is why multiple books and movies can legally have the same title. But copyrighting is also not your only form of legal protection. In addition to copyrights, you should review whether trademarks and patents are relevant to your legal strateg…
See more on videocaddy.com

Copyright Implications of Teaching with Videos

Face-To-Face Teaching and Section 110(1) of The U.S. Copyright Act

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act

Application of The DMCA to Online Teaching

The DMCA and Teach Act

Fair Use

Checklists For Copyright Implications of Teaching with Videos

  • Face-to-Face Teaching Checklist
    1. Institution is a nonprofit educational institution 2. Work is being used in a classroom or other similar teaching place devoted to instruction 3. Work is being displayed or performed by teacher or students 4. If a movie, the copy of the movie was obtained lawfully (the person showing the m…
  • DMCA Exemption for Teaching with Videos Checklist
    1. Other methods of displaying work not feasible (such as screen capture) 2. Circumventing technical locks to display “short” portions of the work 3. For educational purpose 4. By college and university faculty and students or K-12 educators and students (where the K-12 student is circu…
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