Copyright - School Website

[Koldov]

Earlier today I was called to the reception by one of our admin staff who deals with content on our school website.

 

She was having trouble uploading some music tracks that our children need to learn for a county-wide choir meeting later in the year.

 

Looking at the files, they were mp4 audio (I'm geussing that isn't a file format our website can handle) so I was just going to convert them for her.

 

However, when I played the file the album art image was from 'The Greatest Showman' film and it set alarm bells ringing (not only about how she obtained the tracks).

 

I know there are provisions for playing certain material within the school, but I'm concerned about hosting this material on our website...

Edited March 12, 2019 by Koldov

[3s-gtech]

You could link to it on an official Youtube channel if possible, but no way you should host it!

[SamanthaD]

I would definitely stop and start talking to whoever is running this competition - if they're performing Greatest Showman tracks they should have a performance license and may have a license to provide music to rehearse to. However I think hosting this on a publicly accessible website is going to be a big no!

[Koldov]

It's the LEA Music Service running it, so I hope they've got that sorted (it's an 'above my pay-grade' issue I think).

 

So far I've had:

 

"Yes, but we're a school"....

 

"Well, it's a County-wide thing, I'm sure they wouldn't use it if it was copyrighted"....

 

Yes, because there's no difference between a school choir singing it and copying an mp3 to host on your public website for distribution... /sarcasm

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by Koldov

[synaesthesia]

No difference whatsoever, otherwise you'd be able to host copies of your favourite films on your website "for educational purposes".

[jmak]

You definitely won't have permission to host it on your website - even if you bought copyright (which would be on a per song basis), it would need to be in a secure area as you wouldn't get permission to make it available publicly.

 

Suggestion 1) Push back to the LEA - it's their event

Suggestion 2) YouTube as per @3s-gtech

Suggestion 3) Set up a Spotify playlist (for home access only!)

 

Final suggestion: get your body armour out, as whatever you do, you are going to be public enemy number 1 and you're just bring a blocker again....

[DrBeaker]

....Final suggestion: get your body armour out, as whatever you do, you are going to be public enemy number 1 and you're just bring a blocker again....

 

Funny how us IT techs just doing our jobs makes us "a blocker" but I know what you mean. Maybe we should get some T-shirts made saying that?

 

Considering these are supposed to be educated people I'm amazed how little they seem to understand sometimes.

[pooley]

Get it in writing that the HT/SLT are happy for you to do it and then just do it.

 

It's above your pay grade, let someone else worry about it, just cover your arse first.