Many, if not most, items that we seek to use have a copyright that is owned by someone else. This means we have to get permission to use the items, if the use is not covered by a copyright exemption such as Fair Use. There are a couple of important things to remember when we ask for permission to use copyrighted items.
Ask in writing whenever possible and save the document in case of any disagreements.
Be clear on what you want permission to use and what kind of permission you need.
You may also have problems finding out who holds the copyright for the item you wish to use. The Copyright Clearance Center might be a good place to start. You can also check out the links on the Public Performance Rights page of this guide for help with copyright for movies and films.
