Obtaining Copyright Permissions
- Overview
- Licenses
- Identifying Copyright Holders
- Textual Works
- Images
- Musical Works & Sound Recordings
- Films
- Dramatic Works
Copyright Questions
The University of Michigan Library Copyright Office provides help with copyright questions for University of Michigan faculty, staff and students.
Email copyright@umich.edu with questions or visit our website for more information.
Legal Advice
The information presented here is intended for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have specific legal questions pertaining to the University of Michigan, please contact the Office of the General Counsel.
If you require legal advice in your personal capacity, the lawyer referral services operated by the Washtenaw County Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan may be helpful to you.
When to Seek Permission
Remember that you do not need permission if you are using something that is not copyrightable or is in the public domain. You also don't need permission if you are using it in a way that does not implicate one of the rights of copyright holders or is permitted by a user’s right, such as fair use. For more information on these topics, please consult Copyright Basics.
Sources of Public-Licensed Audiovisual Works
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YouTubeYouTube has a large collection of videos licensed under one of the Creative Commons licenses or the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication. Note that many videos on YouTube are under copyright and have not been licensed under any open license.
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VimeoVimeo has a large collection of videos licensed under one of the Creative Commons licenses or the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication. Note that many videos on Vimeo are under copyright and have not been licensed under any open license.
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Moving Image Archive from Internet ArchiveThe Moving Image Archive is a service of the Internet Archive. It contains free movies, films, and video, many of which are licensed under one of the Creative Commons licenses or are in the public domain.
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Moving Image Research CenterThe Moving Image Research Center at the Library of Congress provides a number of collections of early motion pictures, many of which are in the public domain.
Films the University of Michigan Library Has Licensed
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U-M Library Catalog SearchThe library purchases some videos (primarily documentaries, not feature films) with public performance rights (PPR). Those copies can be shown outside the classroom in a public location on the University of Michigan campus when no admission fee is charged. To determine whether the library has purchased PPR for a video, look up the video in Library Catalog Search. If the library has purchased PPR, it will say "Terms of use: U. Michigan public performance rights obtained." This link shows all the films for which the library currently has PPR.
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Finding & Using MediaProvides information about finding and using physical and streaming media.
Netflix Educational Screening Policy
Netflix allows one-time educational screenings of some Netflix Original documentaries. For more information, see Netflix's policy on Educational Screenings of Documentaries.
Collective Management Organizations for Audiovisual Works
The following organizations issue licenses for public performance or display of audiovisual works.
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Criterion PicturesCriterion Pictures licenses non-theatrical public performance of feature films from studios, including Paramount Pictures (select titles only), 20th Century Fox, Fox SearchLight, and DreamWorks Animation.
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Swank Motion PicturesSwank Motion Pictures licenses non-theatrical public performance of movies and TV shows from studios, including Disney, Warner Brothers, MGM, Columbia Pictures, and NBC Universal.
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Kino Lorber EDUKino Lorber EDU licenses films for one-time community screenings by colleges, universities, libraries, and non-profit organizations. It specializes in art-house and international films.
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Motion Picture Licensing CorporationThe Motion Picture Licensing Corporation offers a blanket license, called the "Umbrella License," that gives licensees public performance rights for its full catalog of audiovisual works. MPLC does not issue licenses for individual works.
Film Studios and Distributors
If you want to license a work or a right not covered by licenses from the collective management organizations listed above, going directly to the studio or the distributor is another option. For instance, if you are seeking a license for clips or stills from a studio film, it is common to get that license from the studio. Licensing departments for many major studios and distributors are linked in the list below.
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MGM Media LicensingThis site allows users to request clip and still licenses for works from MGM's collection.
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Paramount Theatrical LibraryThis site explains how to license clips from Paramount's Theatrical Library, including some DreamWorks films.
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Sony Pictures Film Clip & Still LicensingThis site explains how to request licenses of clips, stills, and other items from Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Screen Gems, Stage 6 Films, and Revolution Studios.
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Universal Studios Media LicensingThis site offers clip and still licenses for works from the Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, and MCA Television libraries.
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Walt Disney Studios Licensing WebsiteThis site explains how to license clips, stills, and other materials from Disney's catalog, which includes Lucasfilm, Marvel Films, Miramax Films, and Dimension Films.
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Warner Brothers Clip and Still Licensing InfoThis site explains how to request licenses for clips and stills from the Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Turner Entertainment Co., Castle Rock Entertainment, New Line Cinema (including Picturehouse and Fine Line), and Hanna Barbera feature, television, and animation libraries.
Book on Licensing for Audiovisual Works
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Clearance and Copyright: Everything You Need to Know for Film and Television by Michael C. DonaldsonISBN: 9781879505988Publication Date: 2008 (3rd ed.)
Other Rights in Audiovisual Works
Many audiovisual works contain "layers" of copyrights and other rights that may be controlled by separate rightsholders. In some cases, (e.g., when you obtain a public performance license from a licensor such as Criterion or Swank) the licensor provides all the rights you need. In other cases, a single licensor may not be able to provide all the rights you need. For example, in some cases, a studio may not be able to license the background music in a film clip.
Actor Releases
Privacy and publicity rights in many states require that filmmakers obtain releases from a film's actors in order for the film to be distributed. If the actor is a SAG-AFTRA member, the terms and rates for such releases are often determined by union rules.