Documentaries expose wrongdoing, illuminate culture, and take on powerful interests—and they depend on fair use to do it. Every day, members of our
DMCA
On October 26, 2018, the US Copyright Office modified this exemption for the first time ever, expanding current clearance for documentary films to include some types of fictional films. Now, both nonfiction and fictional filmmakers may use ripped images “where the clip is used for parody or its biographical or historically significant nature.” As a result, filmmakers working on projects like biopics, historical fiction, and parodies like Lonely Island can now access encrypted content without fear of liability.
By Shaia Araghi and Lauren Wertheimer For nearly a decade, a national coalition led by Film Independent and the International Documentary Association
The International Documentary Association expresses profound dismay at the recent proposed federal budget eliminating funding for the National
For the last eight years, the IDA has been a leader in efforts to obtain exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) that preserve
If you've ever needed high-definition footage off of a Blu-ray or DVD, you might be aware that the images you are trying to access are protected by
This Wednesday, the IDA will be participating in a special Los Angeles hearing conducted by the United States Copyright Office in the next step of our
On Monday, eleven federal judges took the bench in Pasadena, CA to hear a copyright case that could have deep and lasting implications for documentary
The DMCA’s ban on breaking encryption is hurting our ability to make fair use. But you are helping us renew our exemption! The Digital Millennium
As part of our ongoing Doc U educational series, we brought together the best fair use lawyers and researchers to help you understand what the DMCA exemption means for your non-fiction film.