Using Films for Educational Purposes
- For a general information about copyright see Overview of Copyright.
- For general information about copyright & films see Films, Television and Radio
The Copyright Act allows the University to record, reproduce, perform and/or communicate broadcast films, including TV shows or commercials, for educational purposes. Communicate means to make the item available online or to email or fax the item to someone. You can:
- show a film in class
- record a film from a TV broadcast to show in class, use as teaching material or make a copy available in the library. See Using Radio & T.V. Broadcasts for Educational Purposes
There are no provisions to copy or communicate films or TV shows from commercial purchased or hired DVDs. If you wish to copy or communicate a DVD that you own or have rented, you will need to request permission from the copyright owner.
Performing Films in Class
The Copyright Act allows films & TV shows to be performed in class for educational purposes. This includes both commercial DVDs and TV broadcasts. The performance must be part of the class and the audience must be restricted to students. This provision does not apply to public performances. If the class is being recorded, the film or TV show may only be included in the recording if it is a TV broadcast.
Further Information
- Overview of Copyright
- Using Copyright Material for Research or Study
- Fast-Find Index - an A-Z glossary of copyright terms and topics
- Introduction to Copyright -a guide from the Copyright Office (b&w version for printing)
- Online Teaching Resources & Copyright - a guide from the Copyright Office ( b&w version for printing)
- Copyright: A User's Guide by Trevor Gerdsen. An online version of this text is also available.
- Contact the University Copyright Office