Q: Am I allowed to use a trailer of a movie(snippets of it) in a commercial webinar that gets recorded and sold?
I am doing a webinar for a commercial company in America, and basing the Strategic Selling course on a case study of the Michael Jordan and NIke deal. There is a film that has trailers on YouTube am I allowed to use snippets of that in the talk and recording or who do I ask permission to use or not?
A:
Using copyrighted material, including movie trailers, without permission in a commercial setting can constitute infringement. Fair use might be a defense if the use is transformative, such as for commentary, criticism, or education, but commercial use can weigh against a finding of fair use. If your webinar is being sold, it strengthens the commercial nature of the endeavor.
To legally use snippets of copyrighted material, you would typically need to obtain a license or permission from the copyright holder. You can approach the movie's producers or distribution company for this permission. Always ensure any permission is in writing. If in doubt, consult directly with an attorney familiar with copyright law before proceeding.
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