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Copyright and Fair Use: Media Services

Copyright and royalty-free image websites

Public Domain Pictures
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/

Copyright Free Photos
http://www.copyrightfreephotos.com/

FreeFoto
http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp

Flikr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

Creative Commons website
http://creativecommons.org/

Public Domain Photos
http://www.public-domain-photos.com/
(Be sure to scroll past the Google ads to get to the free images)

Environmental Education Station
http://web.centre.edu/enviro/Photos_files/Photos.htm

PD Photo
http://pdphoto.org/
(Click on Find)

Google Images
http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi
(Add the terms "copyright free" to your search--even then, not all will be free)

Wikimedia Commons
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Fair Use and permissions

Media Services cannot duplicate copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder, except under the limited scope of Fair Use. If you have questions about fair use of media, or need information about obtaining permission to use or duplicate, please call Craig Johnson (Media Librarian).

The Digital Millenium Copyright Act (1998) made it illegal to circumvent technological protections placed on media, such as DVDs, by publishers. In the 2010 rulemaking process certain exemptions pertaining to academic use of DVDs were approved. This website from the University of Minnesota explains the Act and the more recent exemptions.

Public domain and copyright-free audio websites

Caveats

When using image and audio files from the web that are marked creative commons, royalty-free, or copyright-free, be aware that there still might be licensing restrictions on the use of the media. Such restrictions can be anything from a simple request that you cite the creator, to charging a fee to download the file. Most websites will have a link to information about how the files can be used. (Example) Take a little time to explore these pages before you download and use the files in your project.

Files that are in the public domain are copyright free, and safe to use.

Library collection--Music & sound effects on CD

BBC Sounds Effects Library
   A 40-CD collection of sound effects

   Call number: C.D. PN2091 .S6 B2 1991

Extreme Music Library (from Films for the Humanities)
   2 12-CD collections of original
   compositions for use as backgrounds in
   film or video productions

   Call number: C.D. M176 .E98 1998
                      C.D. M176 .E98 2000