Breakout Session: View from the Bleachers: Applied Skills in Finding and Using Free Media Resources. Presented by Barbara Waxer, Santa Fe Community College
Cyndi Landis
Fort Hays State University
Author Note: Library Outreach Specialist, Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Cyndi Landis, Library Fort Hays State University, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601-4099. Contact: cllandis2@fhsu.edu, 785-628-4529
Breakout Session: View from the Bleachers: Applied Skills in Finding and Using Free Media Resources
Barbara Waxer, copyright educator, author, and instructor in the Media Arts Department at Santa Fe Community College, filled the room with her engaging visuals and quick-paced presentation that focused on the applied skills and resources needed for using copyrighted works and understanding Creative Commons licensing. Grounding her presentation on the dilemma many information consumers and content creators struggle with as they decide whether they can use copyrighted works, Waxer provided solutions to ease the decision-making process and equipped attendees with flow charts and online resources to use for copyright education and awareness.
Waxer’s presentation started with a brief review of the last 18 months of copyright case law, including the rulings about the song “Happy Birthday,” the protection of geometric shapes on cheerleading uniforms, and the Hall & Oates battle with a granola company, concluding that the copyright law is complicated. To add to the confusion, information consumers commonly use excuses to avoid following the rightful use of copyrighted material, including, “If I can right-click it, it’s mine”; “I am an instructional designer, educator, student, or artist”; “I’ll remove it if I get caught”; “I’ll give credit”; “I’ll alter it more than X%”; “There’s no copyright symbol”; “If I don’t profit from the use, I don’t need permission”; and the assumption that “No one will come after little ol’ me.”
