Copyright and Fair Use: Long Reaction

There were many questions throughout the quiz that I found to make me upset and some I found just plain ridiculous. But this question seems absurd to me. Question number 14, stated that videos no matter what they are simply are not covered under the fair use for entertainment or reward. This means that if a school wants to show a video of Beauty and the Beast and any other Disney or fun movie they can not do so without getting a one-time license for $25. If a parent is paying for childcare, a person (faculty or parent) has bought a tape or DVD, what is wrong with all watching a movie together. This made me feel like there are now restrictions on how much fun a person can have, because heaven forbid they might step on the toes of copyright and fair use.

I understand that Disney will simply give them a license, but for an additional $25? If you have already bought the movie and not just downloaded it illegally offline, what is the harm in showing it to a bunch of children. If it was obtained illegally or the students were watching some video of purposes that could potentially result in illegal activities, then that is one point. But for elementary school children to not be able to watch Beauty and the Beast made me just angry.
I feel like people are so concerned with hurting another’s feelings by using their work or some are so afraid of having their work stolen that the measures taken to help with that are hindering others. I do not know if I have a better solution to this question and others that I found to make me upset with the guidelines of copyright and fair use.

But it seems to me that with all questions there needs to be a common ground, because right now there is not. I hope that when I get to become a teacher, I am not restricted due to these guidelines or any other that may come about. I want to be able to freely teach my students using technology and videos and the internet, properly giving credit where credit is due. I hope that this common ground can be found before my students or my children have to experience these restrictions.