Q. What are the rules regarding the use of music in student created, PowerPoint ™ presentations?
A. The Educational MultiMedia Guidelines (see http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/ccmcguid.htm) provide an interpretation of Fair Use as to the limits for using various forms of media in a multimedia presentation, such as Powerpoint™. However, it should be noted that the guidelines were negotiated between copyright owners and educators and the compromise wording sets a conservative floor for what may be done, but not what may possibly be legally done when applying the four criteria of Fair Use.
In other words, there may be instances when more than what is stated in the Guidelines may be used, especially if the student presentations are being made for a class in media literacy or a teacher is teaching using the techniques of media literacy, rather than the traditional use of media. Please reference the “Code of Best Practices in Fair Use in Media Literacy Education” which can be found at:
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/code_for_media_literacy_education/
Make sure to read all the introductory material, and not just the five principles, in order to understand the limits and conditions regarding what is being stated.