Open Forum

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues. 

Many thanks -- John

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John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
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It's always a good idea to check with whomever's content you're wanting to use.



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Jeffrey Carr
Exhibitions and Collections Manager
Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University
Athens OH
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2018 02:53 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues.

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------

John,
Contact the film company and clear all usage of their production with them. The "fair use" doesn't always apply to exhibitions or installations. We wanted to use a short clip from a Smithsonian film as part of one of our educational exhibits and ended up having to purchase a license agreement. It's better to cover all your bases before you get to far into your exhibit planning.

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Keith Martin
Museum Exhibit Program Specialist
Arkansas State Parks Department of Parks & Tourism
Little Rock AR
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2018 02:53 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues.

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------

Check the Fair Use (FU) guidelines of College Art Association for some guidance and esp. the similar FU guidelines for documentary filmmakers. For latter (c)/FU was a big issue till the guidelines came out, and those following them have not had problems since, according to a coauthor of both sets of guidelines

Perhaps a copyright expert experienced with film can give you a current-practice answer, but in the case of book titles--I'm not sure about films--Library of Congress told me years ago that book titles couldn't be copyrighted. (We published a third book with the same name, but this was before US signed onto Berne Convention.) That doesn't preclude however possible registration of the film title as a trademark or other registered mark, which might affect your use of it.

------------------------------
Joseph Newland
Director of Publishing
Menil Collection
Houston TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2018 02:53 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues.

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------

You actually might have more success securing the rights if you DO plan to screen the entire work. Pulling it apart to use stills, the title, etc. out of context is very likely to meet with disapproval from the copyright holder, in my experience.

------------------------------
Carrie Hunnicutt
Manager of Marketing & PR
Meadows Museum - Southern Methodist University
Dallas TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2018 02:53 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues.

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------

Original Message------

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues. 

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------

Here is a good write up about Fair Use within museums...https://aamd.org/sites/default/files/document/Guidelines%20for%20the%20Use%20of%20Copyrighted%20Materials.pdf


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Jared Crellin
Account Director
ListenUp Audio

------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2018 02:53 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues.

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------

Thanks to all for all the thoughtful insights on this copyright issue.  As its not common for an art exhibition to venture into a realm of copyrighted story, I knew there might be some potential problems.  Anyway, I  didn't share the name of the movie thinking it might influence the responses, but now I think it might be better to do that. The suggestions were all very helpful but I'm now realizing that the holder of the copyright - Disney and Pixar would probably not be interested in being involved. I will still attempt to reach them but I realize that such a huge corporation would be difficult to contact, and getting an agreement would be very complicated.  I'll let the forum know if we are able to proceed. The name of the Disney/Pixar movie is WALL-E, and animated science fiction movie from 2008, that is now considered by many to be one of the strongest environmental sustainability movies around.

If there are any additional suggestions or comments, please post.

Thanks again -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Unbound Visual Arts
Executive Director
Boston, MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2018 02:53 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues.

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------

Original Message------

Thanks to all for all the thoughtful insights on this copyright issue.  As its not common for an art exhibition to venture into a realm of copyrighted story, I knew there might be some potential problems.  Anyway, I  didn't share the name of the movie thinking it might influence the responses, but now I think it might be better to do that. The suggestions were all very helpful but I'm now realizing that the holder of the copyright - Disney and Pixar would probably not be interested in being involved. I will still attempt to reach them but I realize that such a huge corporation would be difficult to contact, and getting an agreement would be very complicated.  I'll let the forum know if we are able to proceed. The name of the Disney/Pixar movie is WALL-E, and animated science fiction movie from 2008, that is now considered by many to be one of the strongest environmental sustainability movies around.

If there are any additional suggestions or comments, please post.

Thanks again -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Unbound Visual Arts
Executive Director
Boston, MA
------------------------------

It would be my strong suggestion that you not do anything with a Disney/Pixar copyrighted property without getting formal (written) clearance from the company.   "The Mouse" is very protective of its material.

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Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-19-2018 12:17 PM
From: Thora Colot
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

John -

It is interesting to get the title and who owns the copyright to see what differences that makes to the "advice" you get. 

I would perhaps start with the corporate philanthropy part of Pixar and see if they will sponsor your exhibition, via giving you permission to use images and content. They might be interested!

Thora

Original Message------

Thanks to all for all the thoughtful insights on this copyright issue.  As its not common for an art exhibition to venture into a realm of copyrighted story, I knew there might be some potential problems.  Anyway, I  didn't share the name of the movie thinking it might influence the responses, but now I think it might be better to do that. The suggestions were all very helpful but I'm now realizing that the holder of the copyright - Disney and Pixar would probably not be interested in being involved. I will still attempt to reach them but I realize that such a huge corporation would be difficult to contact, and getting an agreement would be very complicated.  I'll let the forum know if we are able to proceed. The name of the Disney/Pixar movie is WALL-E, and animated science fiction movie from 2008, that is now considered by many to be one of the strongest environmental sustainability movies around.

If there are any additional suggestions or comments, please post.

Thanks again -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Unbound Visual Arts
Executive Director
Boston, MA
------------------------------

Hello Everyone, 

------------------------------
Corinne Tapia
SLE (Sous Les Etoiles) Traveling Exhibitions
New York NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-18-2018 02:59 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

Thanks to all for all the thoughtful insights on this copyright issue.  As its not common for an art exhibition to venture into a realm of copyrighted story, I knew there might be some potential problems.  Anyway, I  didn't share the name of the movie thinking it might influence the responses, but now I think it might be better to do that. The suggestions were all very helpful but I'm now realizing that the holder of the copyright - Disney and Pixar would probably not be interested in being involved. I will still attempt to reach them but I realize that such a huge corporation would be difficult to contact, and getting an agreement would be very complicated.  I'll let the forum know if we are able to proceed. The name of the Disney/Pixar movie is WALL-E, and animated science fiction movie from 2008, that is now considered by many to be one of the strongest environmental sustainability movies around.

If there are any additional suggestions or comments, please post.

Thanks again -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Unbound Visual Arts
Executive Director
Boston, MA

Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2018 02:53 PM
From: John Quatrale
Subject: Copyright issue for exhibitions

We're working on an art exhibition, featuring contemporary art, to present the issue of environmental sustainability.   To help make the exhibition as exciting and as interesting as possible, we'd like to use a 10 year old popular commercial film to tell the story.  We think we can use a few still images from the film and a few quotes as "fair use." We would NOT show the actual film in the exhibition, unless we got permission from the  company.  But, we're also thinking we need their approval just to use their story and characters, even if we tell it in our own words. We'd also like to use the name of the film in our exhibition title.  Does anyone have any experience with any of this?   Or suggest a museum or exhibition person/curator that may have dealt with these issues.

Many thanks -- John

------------------------------
John Quatrale
Executive Director
Unbound Visual Arts
Boston, MA
------------------------------