Films/videos may be shown at a single location on campus as part of the curriculum of a unit-bearing course during regular class time or alternately scheduled class time, or during a college sanctioned teaching session.  Viewing must be limited to those students enrolled in the course or registered to participate in the college sanctioned teaching session; the faculty member teaching the course or leading the college sanctioned teaching session, as well as teaching assistants and/or media services specialists who are supporting the faculty in the showing of the film/video, may also be present.

Possession of a film or video does not confer the right to show the work. The copyright owner specifies, at the time of purchase or rental, the circumstances in which a film or video may be “performed”.  For example, videocassettes from a video rental outlet usually bear a label that specifies “Home Use Only”.  However, whatever their labeling or licensing, use of these media is permitted in an educational institution so long as certain conditions are met.

Section 110 (1) of the Copyright Act of 1976 specifies that the following is permitted:  Performance or display of a work by instructors or pupils in the course of face-to- face teaching activities of a nonprofit educational institution, in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction, unless, in the case of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, the performance, or the display of individual images is given by means of a copy that was not lawfully made…and that the person responsible for the performance knew or had reason to believe was not lawfully made.  Additional text of the Copyright Act and portions of the House Report (94-1476) combine to provide the following, more detailed list of conditions [from Virginia M. Helm, “What Educators Should Know About Copyright,” Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation, 1986]:

   1. They must be shown as part of the instructional program.
   2. They must be shown by students, instructors, or guest lecturers.
   3. They must be shown either in a classroom or other school location devoted to instruction such as a studio, workshop, library, gymnasium, or auditorium if it is used for instruction.
   4. They must be shown either in a face-to-face setting or where students and teacher(s) are in the same building or general area.
   5. They must be shown only to students and educators.
   6. They must be shown using a legitimate (that is, not illegally reproduced) copy with the copyright notice included.

Further, the relationship between the film or video and the course must be explicit. Films or videos, even in a “face-to-face” classroom setting, may not be used for entertainment or recreation, whatever the work’s intellectual content.  Please note:  compliance of Copyright Law relating to video use goes hand-in-hand with our college policy on academic honesty.