How to Obtain Permission From a Copyright Holder of a DVD

Copyright is applied to all creative works at the point of creation.

Copyright is a legal protection afforded to all creative works at the moment of creation. It allows the creator or a work o receive all the possible benefits of his creation, without having to go to any lengths to assert his rights in order to receive protection. If you want to use copyrighted DVDs for another work, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder of the DVD.

Instructions

1. Examine the DVD and its accompanying materials (case, inserts and so forth) for details of who owns the copyright to the material on it. In the majority of cases, this will be printed clearly on the back cover and on the disc itself. Access the Internet and visit the copyright holder's website. Find the holder's contact details, which are usually displayed at the bottom of the site, or on a "Contact us" page.

2. Write a request for permission to use a sample of their copyrighted material and address the letter (or email) to the copyright holder at the address you just found. Explain how much material you want to use and what the purpose of your project is. If you have a budget, inform the copyright holder of how much you are prepared to pay to license a portion of the material.

3. Allow up to two months for a response after submitting the request. Use this time to find copyright-free alternatives to the material you wish to use, in case the copyright holder refuses permission or the address turns out to be old and the copyright holder can no longer be reached.

Tips & Warnings

• Not all creative works, even those on DVD, are protected by copyright and copyright does not necessarily prevent you from using a small portion of the material depending on how much material you want to use and for what purpose.

• Copyright expires 70 years after the death of the original creator if she is an individual; 95 years after publication if the producer is a company; or 120 years after creation if the producer is a company (in the case of companies, copyright ends at whichever time expires first).

• Just because you can't find the copyright holder does not mean you are free to use their copyrighted material. Use of copyrighted material without permission is a crime under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Punishment may take the form of a fine, imprisonment or both. Always get permission first.

References

• University of California: Obtaining Permissions
• Central Michigan University: Copyright FAQs