Josai University Educational Corporation

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Josai Hosts Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival Event “Fair Use for Documentary Filmmakers”

On October 18, 2013, Josai’s Tokyo Kioicho Campus hosted a symposium co-sponsored by Josai University Educational Corporation/Asian Visual Studies Center and the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival to educate filmmakers about “fair use,” so they can avoid unnecessary fears of committing or overlooking issues of copyright infringement.

The seminar opened with a lecture from Gordon Quinn (producer, Hoop Dreams, Stevie) who used concrete visual examples to illustrate fair use guidelines compiled by American documentary filmmakers and legal counsel. Must one obtain legal rights to a song playing in the background of a coffee shop where an interview was held? Is one allowed to use videos promoting the advancement of nuclear energy to criticize government policy? Mr. Quinn addressed these questions and more.

Afterward, Tetsujiro Yamagami (producer, Out of Place: Memories of Edward Said) and director John Junkerman (The Constitution of Japan) joined in the conversation, fielding questions during a Q&A and expressing their individual stances regarding fair use. Many documentary filmmakers and journalists attended the event, thereby expanding the discussion in terms of scope and practical information, making for a very meaningful session indeed. As the concept and application of fair use has just recently been introduced in Japan, Josai’s Visual Studies Center plans to take the lead in promoting this practice further.

Professor Abé Mark Nornes and Mr. Fujioka of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival at the seminar opening

Professor Abé Mark Nornes and Mr. Fujioka of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival at
the seminar opening

Producer Gordon Quinn explains the state of fair use

Producer Gordon Quinn explains the state of fair use

The panelists express their positions on fair use (from left: John Junkerman, Gordon Quinn, Tetsujiro Yamagami)

The panelists express their positions on fair use
(from left: John Junkerman, Gordon Quinn, Tetsujiro Yamagami)


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