Michael Donaldson Joins the Legal Vision Podcast to Discuss Fair Use

Michael Donaldson recently joined filmmaker Damien Swaby’s “Legal Vision” podcast series in an episode entitled “Fair Use – Empowering Creators in the Digital Age – Michael C. Donaldson.” In his appearance, Michael breaks down key aspects of fair use, a doctrine that prevents censorship by allowing creators to tell historical or factual stories without needing permission for every piece of material.

“Fair use allows you to use somebody else’s copyright-protected material without asking them, without paying for it,” Michael explains in the episode. “You can just use it as long as it’s a fair use, which is defined in the code. I’ve looked at about 130 different copyright laws over my career from different countries, and every single country that I’m aware of has a provision somewhere, somehow, for using other people’s material without their permission, under certain circumstances.”

Michael continues to add that fair use is a fundamental building block of free speech rights, as it prevents censorship over how historical facts are conveyed.

“It’s a concept that is absolutely critical to creators, because without it, you would have a situation where certain people could control how you tell your story,” he tells listeners. “With historical stories, stories based on facts, that could be really restrictive.”

The Legal Vision podcast series, in collaboration with esteemed filmmaker and podcast host and producer Damien Swaby, is a pro bono project with the mission to inspire creators to explore necessary legal frameworks as they launch creative endeavors. The discussions and subject matter in this podcast do not constitute legal advice. Please consult with an attorney before making any legal decisions.

View the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.