Understand the legal issues
Laws and University policy impose restrictions on the creations of podcasts. Understanding the legal issues surrounding podcasting is one part of learning how to create a podcast.
Penalties exist for those who fail to observe laws and University policy.
Copyright ownership
In nearly all cases, the copyright of course materials -- including recordings of lectures -- resides with the person who creates them, but the University retains a license to continue to use and revise them for continued instruction. However, if a recording includes someone else's copyrighted material (e.g., a guest lecturer's presentation slides), the recorder is responsible for doing one or more of the following:
- Securing written permission from the copyright holder.
- Ensuring that it is a fair use. The Copyright Clearance Center offers a Fair Use Check List that you can try. However, it is generally unwise for any layperson to interpret fair use without the assistance of a legal expert.
- Remove or obscure the copyrighted material from the recording.
Students who use recordings of lectures for commercial purposes are subject to discipline. More details: Recordings Policy Summary.
Privacy of individuals
Some individuals might not want to be part of a recording. The recorder is responsible for securing privacy consent from everyone identifiable in the recording. More details: Recordings Policy Summary.
More info
Podcasts@UCSF also provides an overview of legal issues in its Terms and Conditions.
Go to: How to Create a Podcast
