Fair use policy with online webinars - copyright

[Gem8]

Hi,

So I'm a small (teeny: only me) business owner and I work voluntarily for an international non-profit.
I'm considering running a small monthly meet-up group in which we watch webinars and discuss them afterwards. This isn't necessarily for my business at all and I may take payments, but only to cover the costs of the venue, travel and organising costs.

If I explicitly state what payment is for and that's it's not for watching the webinars, can I use recordings of webinars i have previously downloaded (that have mainly been shown from an education establishment for free) via the fair use policy? Or would I need to contact the original speakers for permission?

Thank you.

 

[ethical PR]

If you are running webinars you won't have venue or travel costs.

Therefore what costs would you have?

 

[Gem8]

If you are running webinars you won't have venue or travel costs.

Therefore what costs would you have?

It won't be online, it will be at a venue. I'd like a chance for people to meet up in person and discuss topics that way. This would be much more enriching and enjoyable i think.

 

[Gem8]

Although if they are online, say over zoom, I guess it would be the same question, as there would still be organisation and application costs. These would only be very small though.

 

[Mr D]

It won't be online, it will be at a venue. I'd like a chance for people to meet up in person and discuss topics that way. This would be much more enriching and enjoyable i think.

Also more risky.

Your target market - some of them have to take steps to reduce risk?

 

[Gem8]

Also more risky.

Your target market - some of them have to take steps to reduce risk?

Sorry I don't understand what you're saying. At the meet-ups, they won't necessarily be my target market, as this is not to make business.

 

[Mr D]

Sorry I don't understand what you're saying. At the meet-ups, they won't necessarily be my target market, as this is not to make business.

Still a target market - the people you decide should have a chance to decide to take part.

Unless simply putting ads in national newspapers for anyone to attend.

That's all by the by.

The people you want to turn up may not be wanting to take the risk. Or government may decide your area should have a local lockdown and no meeting across households.
As has happened already.

 

[Gem8]

Still a target market - the people you decide should have a chance to decide to take part.

Unless simply putting ads in national newspapers for anyone to attend.

That's all by the by.

The people you want to turn up may not be wanting to take the risk. Or government may decide your area should have a local lockdown and no meeting across households.
As has happened already.

Ah I know what you mean. There's a local lockdown here now so won't be anytime very soon. Hopefully when there's more of a sense of normality. Maybe online for now but thinking more about the future. Just really want to know if this is fair use. I mean, my business is the same subject as the videos will be, but it's to have fun discussing topics rather than for the promotion of business. Although I may promote the non-profit I volunteer for as they may sponsor by way of their own material to watch.

I have already got some interest in the meet-ups, but have only done so with my name, I'm not using my business name.

 

[obscure]

If I explicitly state what payment is for and that's it's not for watching the webinars, can I use recordings of webinars i have previously downloaded (that have mainly been shown from an education establishment for free) via the fair use policy? Or would I need to contact the original speakers for permission?

You would need to contact the copyright owner (which may or may not be the original speaker) for permission unless you know for a fact that the videos are licensed for commercial use/broadcast.

1. What you state is unimportant it is what you do that matters. You are charging for attendance at an event, the purpose of which is to view these webinars.

2. It doesn't matter if you charge money or not, broadcasting to a group would most likely be infringement as most youtube etc videos don't have a license that allows for broadcasting.

2

 

[gpietersz]

Have you checked the copyright notices in the videos or where you downloaded them from? Or did you record them yourself from the live webinar?

Some educational establishments can be very open with the material: for example MIT's huge collection of "open courseware" is creative commons licenced.

 

[Gem8]

You would need to contact the copyright owner (which may or may not be the original speaker) for permission unless you know for a fact that the videos are licensed for commercial use/broadcast.

1. What you state is unimportant it is what you do that matters. You are charging for attendance at an event, the purpose of which is to view these webinars.

2. It doesn't matter if you charge money or not, broadcasting to a group would most likely be infringement as most youtube etc videos don't have a license that allows for broadcasting.

2

Thank you, this is something I can do. I'm sure I can reach many of them via email. maybe best to do so just to be sure anyhow.

 

[Gem8]

Have you checked the copyright notices in the videos or where you downloaded them from? Or did you record them yourself from the live webinar?

Some educational establishments can be very open with the material: for example MIT's huge collection of "open courseware" is creative commons licenced.

Thank you for this advice, I will definitely check the website I downloaded them from. I didn't record the webinar, I download via a link that was sent after watching. I'm thinking I will email each one for permission beforehand and let them decide. this will be best got everybody's peace of mind. also gives me a decision to move forward with.

 

[paulears]

Minefield! At the very least you'd need a release from every participant. No way in the world could this be any kind of fair use. Making a profit is irrelevant. All the usual rights topics that are in normal use fall down here. I don't even know how many webinars would be able to give permission because many of them don't even really have any official permission from the attendees/contributors apart from the applied one that you don't join unless you want to be seen and heard. Nobody will have told the participants that one person is going to record it and use it as the basis of further training. If I was a part of a group who wanted to use something I was in, I'd probably say yes - but if it was going to be pulled apart in a forum where I was NOT present, and would have no contextual way to control the usage, I'd be very reluctant. I'd also assume that if my contribution was worthy enough to justify hiring a venue, that I'd get a fee, along with everyone else.

 

[Gem8]

Minefield! At the very least you'd need a release from every participant. No way in the world could this be any kind of fair use. Making a profit is irrelevant. All the usual rights topics that are in normal use fall down here. I don't even know how many webinars would be able to give permission because many of them don't even really have any official permission from the attendees/contributors apart from the applied one that you don't join unless you want to be seen and heard. Nobody will have told the participants that one person is going to record it and use it as the basis of further training. If I was a part of a group who wanted to use something I was in, I'd probably say yes - but if it was going to be pulled apart in a forum where I was NOT present, and would have no contextual way to control the usage, I'd be very reluctant. I'd also assume that if my contribution was worthy enough to justify hiring a venue, that I'd get a fee, along with everyone else.

thanks for your input, this makes a lot of sense