Legal Question in Intellectual Property in West Virginia
Can volunteers for 901c3's make audio files of children's books to be used in 3rd world countries for humanitarian purposes without breaking copyright law?
Asked on 3/03/16, 4:38 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
John Mitchell
Interaction Law
Presumably you are referring to a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, but it makes no difference whether charitable or for-profit. Making an audio recording of a printed book is a derivative work, and would ordinarily infringe the copyright owner's exclusive right under � 106(2) (subject to �� 107-122) to create derivative works as well as the � 106(1) and (3) right to reproduce the work into copies, and to distribute copies. (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/106) The wiser approach would be to contact the author/copyright owner, explain your purpose, and seek permission.
Answered on 3/03/16, 2:24 pm