Copyright

[Jean M Bruce]

I have an English teacher that is putting together a school production this spring that will include poems, monologues, and songs. The event will be advertised for general community attendance with a charge at the door. She is fighting me about getting permission to use all works. (the show will also be videotapes and copies sold to performers.) Am I wrong? It sure would be easy if I tell her to at least cite where she's getting all the material in the program. She claims she's covered since this is a school production and does not need to get permissions. Any concrete evidence would be great right now, as I'm being looked at as the bad copyright cop.

[Debbie Abilock]

You'll have to take a collaborative approach rather than a confrontational one or you'll get nowhere. Ask her to help you go over the "Four Factors" - to determine that there's nothing to worry about. I suspect she'll recognize that there is, in fact, reason to be concerned.

[Leigh Ann Hood]

Explain the copyright rules to her and then have her sign a waiver that says you have explained it and that you and the principal are no longer liable for her violations. This at least documents that you have done your job.