Copyrights and Copy Wrongs
By John K. Wilson
When USAS put parody posters of the Disney College Program around campus last week, the Disney folks were sad little cast members. So sad, in fact, that they contacted ISU's Student Life office, who told USAS to take down the posters for violating copyright law.
Not so. Copyright law has two major exemptions: parody allows for the use of copyright material for the purposeof mocking it. Fair use allows for the noncommercial use of material for the purpose of education and criticism.
Even if the anti-Disney could somehow be seen as a violation of copyright law, ISU has no business (and no policies) prohibiting such posters. If Disney doesn't like it, they can send their well-paid lawyers to sue us.
Disney has a long record of trying to silence dissent using copyright law. It's sad that their mouseketeers at ISU (and administrators who enforce the rules) haven't learned what the First Amendment stands for.
