Copyright+issues+with+presenting+paper

To find out about the copyright issues associated with making a youtube video explaining a paper, I asked a lawyer on justanswer. It sounds like this could be okay and could be considered "Fair Use". The original conversation is below.

I want to make a youtube video in which I explain and show a paper (like an academic scientific research paper) written by someone else. I would clearly show who actually wrote the paper, and not try to claim that I wrote the paper at all. However, I would show text and figures from the paper. Would there be any laws or problems with me showing and providing my own comments on a paper like this?

Optional Information: State/Country relating to question: Arizona

Already Tried: nothing

Hello JACUSTOMER,

I would careful about copying actual text and figures. This could potentially raise copyright infringement claims. It would be better if you could express the ideas and information in the paper in your own words. There would be no problem with this as copyright law really only prohibits actual copying, and does not prevent the dissemination of ideas, facts etc. contained in a copyrighted work. Copyright really only protects the particular manner in which ideas are expressed.

However, limited copying of material is permissible under the "Fair Use" doctrine. This doctrine is set forth in 17 U.S. Code § 107. I invite you to take a look at this section, but basically you are allowed to copy limited amounts from a copyrighted work for the purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. Unfortunately there is no set amount you can copy under the "Fair Use" doctrine as the four factors mentioned in § 107 must be taken into consideration.

So if you are going to be copying portions of the paper see if you can fall within the "Fair Use" doctrine; you would probably fall within the purposes of scholarship or research.

Thomas

I would like to show and explain the pictures and graphs as well. Do you think this could fall under the "Fair Use" doctrine?

Yes, it could if you are doing it for one of the purposes listed under § 107: criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

Thomas