Part 1: Play Licensing

Copyright and Licensing

MTI Shows is a publishing company that owns the rights to many popular plays. Visit their website at http://www.mtishows.com and answer the following questions: 1. What are the seven steps you need to follow if youd like permission to perform one of the shows?
-If you want permission to perform one of the shows you must choose a show, if you are unsure what show you would like to do MTI will send you perusal copies. Then you must apply for a performance license, which must be in writing before fees are quoted. Next you will have to pay any necessary licensing fees, meaning once you have received a license you need to fill it out sign it and return it with the fees and security deposit. After that you must obtain the materials which can be rented from the MTI. Next you must rehearse and make any necessary changes. Then you have to attract an audience with printed or media campaigns. Lastly have a great production; MTI loves hearing of your success.

2. What information is required on the license application form?

-Your license application must have the following on it:
Name and Address of Producing Organization Phone and Fax numbers Name of Show Dates of Desired Performance(s) Number of Performances Name of Theatre/Auditorium Seating Capacity of Theatre/Auditorium Ticket Prices (be specific, include all discounts)

Part 2: Copyright Myths

Go to the website http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html and answer the following questions: 1. Write a 2-3 sentence summary of each of the myths about copyrighting. -If it has a copyright notice it strengthens the protection of the piece. You should always assume its copyrighted if it looks like it was. The copyright symbol is a C in a circle or uses the phrase All Rights Reserved. -Whether you charge for it or not its still a violation. The only copyright that is not a violation is a personal copy of music.

-Nothing is in public domain unless the owner puts it in public domain (*). The owner must write a note saying I grant this to the public domain or something like it. -You cannot copy someone elses work word from word. You are stealing someones expressions and their structure. But you may write the persons facts in your own words. -Copyrights are never lost but they can be explicitly given to someone else. You cannot use someones trademark that may steal the values of a mark or confuse people of who the owner is. -You cannot write a story based on someones work. You must ask the author for permission to use characters and/or settings. -In a copyright case you usually get sued instead of being charged with a crime. In these kinds of cases innocent until proven guilty and proof beyond reasonable doubt do not apply the same way or at all. -Copyright is a felony if it involves more the 10 copies and benefits over $2500.Congress amended this law because there was a case where the person didnt charge for the copies that were acquitted. -You have to ask the owner if they want the free advertisement. Piracy on the net hurts the people who want a chance to use the new technology. -You can share any kind of email you receive as long as it wasnt agreed to be a secret. If somebody tried to sue you over an ordinary message no damage will be done because that message had no commercial value. -Copyright isnt a lock on what can/cannot be published. Copyright has two very important purposes; to protect the right of the authors to obtain commercial benefit of their work and to protect the right of the authors to control how their work is used.

Copyright and Licensing

Part 3: Creative Commons License

Visit the website http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/. This is the actual text of the Creative Commons license. 1. In your own words, what are people allowed to do and not allowed to do under the creative commons license? -You are able to add to the piece as long as the author Okays it and Okays what you are adding to it. You may not able to add or

transform it into something different if it is based on someone elses work.

Copyright and Licensing

Part 4: In Your Own Words

In your own words: 1. How has the copyright law benefited society and the economy? What would you change about the copyright law, given the rapid growth of the internet? -The copyright law has benefited society and the economy by giving authors the protection that their piece may not be used , transformed or sold unless it is okayed by the author. I would change that all pieces, emails, and even advertisements be copyrighted because some people are not trustworthy enough to keep a secret even if asked to, and people will go on posting about an advertisement that was not for the public.