If you include an excerpt scene from a movie as part of a critical review for your practical drama course presentation for fellow classmates, copyright law…

Question

will require that you contact the original creator of the movie and ask permission to use the clip as part of your presentation. 


will allow reproduction of the movie scene during the presentation without the original creator’s permission, based on the ‘fair use’ principle.  


will prohibit you to do so, as you will be breaking the law, specifically the South African Copyright Act No 98 of 1978.


will require that you pay compensation to the original creator of the movie before you are allowed to use the clip in your presentation. 

Answer 1

The correct answer would be:

will allow reproduction of the movie scene during the presentation without the original creator’s permission, based on the ‘fair use’ principle.

However, it's important to note that "fair use" may not be explicitly recognized in South African copyright law in the same way it is in U.S. law. Instead, South Africa has its own provisions regarding 'fair dealing' for purposes such as criticism, review, or education. If the use of the clip meets the criteria for 'fair dealing', then you may be able to use an excerpt without permission. It's advisable to familiarize yourself with the specific details of the South African Copyright Act No 98 of 1978 and how it applies to your presentation to ensure compliance.

Ultimately, the safest approach is to give appropriate credit and consider whether your use qualifies as fair dealing under South African law.