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Right to Make Video and Audio Recordings
The First Amendment generally gives you the right to make a video recording of anything that is in plain view when you are in a public place . It does not , however , always give you the right to make an audio recording of what people say , especially in private settings . Many states have laws prohibiting the recording of private conversations — including conversations in public spaces — without the consent of all parties to the conversation . Many public and private universities also have policies that regulate video and audio recording on campus . Similar to other protected speech , your right to make a video recording in public places is subject to reasonable time , place , and manner restrictions .
To ensure you are complying with all laws and policies , consult someone knowledgeable about the laws in the state where your university is located and your school ’ s policies before making any video or audio recordings of lectures or presentations by professors or outside speakers at your school .
Also , keep in mind that even when you are permitted to make a video or audio recording without the consent of all parties , you may not be able to publicly distribute the recording you made because the presentation or speech you recorded may be intellectual property that is protected under copyright laws .
In order to avoid violating state law , university policy , or copyright law , the best course of action usually is to obtain consent before making a video or audio recording of any lecture or presentation by a professor or outside speaker . If there is some reason that you wish to make a recording without obtaining the consent of the speaker , you should first consult a lawyer .