Society for Cinema and Media Studies Statement on Fair Use

The Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS) strongly supports the attempt to define the fair use of visual and aural materials by film and videomakers, educators, programmers and curators, and other film and media practitioners. As a scholarly organization with an ongoing interest in advising its members and constituents on the considerable ambiguity regarding fair use practice and its possible ensuing consequences, SCMS supports the principle of clarifying the legal, ethical, and practical implications of the fair use of visual and aural materials. To this end, SCMS has constituted a committee on public policy, which has been charged with developing a stance on fair use practice, among other policy matters. SCMS seeks to work with other organizations to develop a comprehensive policy stance regarding the fair use of visualand aural materials.

SCMS is very pleased that the Librarian of Congress has created an exemption allowing film and media studies professors to create digital clips from legally-obtained DVDs housed in college and university libraries. The exemption lasts until Oct. 29, 2009, at which point it may be renewed. For more information about this ruling, please go to http://www.asc.upenn.edu/DMCA/.