Video transcript
Lights, camera, action! – 19. Copyright

[intro music]

[acoustic guitar music playing]

PRESENTER: It takes a lot of time and effort to create a film or animation, and when we work so hard at something, it's great to share and show it online. But before we do, we need to have an understanding of copyright. When anyone creates something original, it is automatically protected by copyright, which means the owner or creator of the work has the right to decide if other people can copy or change it and how and where it can be used.

Copyright law applies to things like written works, digital media, performances, artworks, images, web sources and music. Music copyright is often misunderstood. Music on the radio and streaming services is covered under copyright law, and even when you buy or stream that music, you only have the right to listen to it, not to use it in your film projects. Getting permission to use popular music in your films can be difficult and expensive. So we need to find easier ways to source music legally.

Copyright falls into 3 broad definitions. Public domain, or open sourced, means either the owner has given up copyright or copyright ownership has expired. This means the work can be used by everyone for free without permission. Any works listed under Creative Commons or copyright free will provide permission for you to use them, but with certain restrictions, requirements or licences.

Creative Commons has 6 different licences that govern how we can use those works. It will also indicate if the works can be changed or altered in any way and where they can be used and for what purpose. Copyright free is often seen on webpages and means the copyright owner will allow other people to use their work for specific purposes. But it usually imposes a licence or subscription.

Having a licence is a safe way to use copyright free material. There are many sites that offer free or inexpensive licences for educational or non-profit purposes. Therefore, you must always check the usage rights and requirements before using music that is Creative Commons or copyright free. Many contributors to YouTube offer variations of copyright free. So, in choosing one of these sources, always open the 'Show more' section of the page and carefully check your obligations to observe the copyright protocols.

And it's probably a good idea to take a screenshot and keep it for your records. When creating a film, we always recommend sourcing music and other creative works ethically. So check your sources and licence agreements and always credit them. So now, you're set. You can go out and have some fun making films and animations.

[acoustic guitar music playing]