When using archival materials in new, creative projects, copyright can seem like a labyrinth of mostly dead ends. Questions about copyright duration, ownership and other gnarly issues can leave archivists and creators feeling stuck. Enter fair use: If your use of an item is considered a fair use, you don’t have to figure out who the author was, whether they died over 70 years ago, or whether a long-lost deed of gift transferred copyrights to the archive or left them with the donor. If your use is a fair use, there’s no payment or permission required.
Presenter Brandon Butler has been helping libraries, archives and their users make fair use of collections materials for over 15 years, most recently as an attorney for documentary film, television and podcast producers who rely heavily on archival materials to bring their stories to life.
Programming assistance is provided by the Friends of the Virginia State Archives, a 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at friendsofvirginiaarchives.org. For more information, contact Mary Ann Mason at maryann.mason@lva.virginia.gov or 804.692.3648.
This is a free event, but registration is required. Information about joining by Zoom will be shared with all registered participants.
