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Legal Music Distribution for Education?

Posted by Cliff on from the if-it-isn't-legal-it-should-be dept.

discstickers asks: "One of my classes next semester, 'Roots of Rock & Roll', has been canceled, because the professor isn't allowed to post the songs needed for the class, on a limited-access server ([which would] only be available to people registered for the class). So Slashdot, is there a legal way to get around this? The MP3s in question are old albums and individual songs. The cost shouldn't be too high, there are 100 people in the class with Macs and PCs, and we'd have to be able to burn the music to mix CDs for the final project."

8 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. way back machine by kayen_telva · · Score: 2, Insightful

    how would this class have been taught in 1989 ? just do it that way.

  2. Hmmmm...... by Nagatzhul · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Isn't allowed? Wouldn't this fall under fair use and education purposes, legally speaking? Haven't they been photocopying books and magazines for years under that clause?

    --
    "All I want is a warm bed and a kind word and unlimited power." - Ashleigh Brilliant
    1. Re:Hmmmm...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A professor photocopying multiple textbooks in order to make a coursepack to hand out to his students == perfectly legal

      No, it isn't, its just not enforced often. I have taken a lot of classes where we were told that there is a copy of a particualr textbook in the library on reserve and that we should view a particualr article there as it was the only article fro mthat textbook we were going to use, so there was no need to purchase the book, but it was not legal to photocopy it and hand it out in class.

  3. Possible Solution by slubberdegullion · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Drawing on my legal education, I think there may be a solution: take a real class instead.

    1. Re:Possible Solution by Txiasaeia · · Score: 2, Funny

      I completely agree with you! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm heading off to my "Effects of Dharma and Greg on Contemporary Culture" class.

      --
      Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
  4. There is a document by Apreche · · Score: 2, Informative

    There is a law which explicitly dictates the terms under which you may use copyrighted material for educational use. Find it and do what it says, and it is legal.

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    The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
  5. Even if you work around this... by JMZero · · Score: 3, Funny

    ..the mean old Dean still won't let the prof enter the class in "Battle of the Bands". It's against school policy - and, besides, what hope does a ragtag bunch of school kids have of winning?

    --
    Let's not stir that bag of worms...
  6. Compulsory licensing by senahj · · Score: 3, Interesting


    The campus radio station should broadcast the
    songs at a specific time -- the copyright holders
    would get a small compensation.

    Then the professor should ask the students to each
    tape that broadcast for personal use, which they are
    legally allowed to do.

    --
    Wait a minute. Didn't I say that on the other side of the record? I'd better check ...