Copyright

• You may show legally obtained films during in-person class sessions as part of instruction
• No public performance license is required when access is limited to enrolled students
• Films must support your course outcomes — not for entertainment
• Captions are required for accessibility
• Sharing your personal streaming accounts (like Netflix or Hulu) with a class is not allowed—even during in-person sessions

TEACH Act protections allow the use of reasonable and limited portions of films or videos in online instruction, provided certain conditions are met:

• The clip must directly relate to your course outcomes
• The clip must be from a legal copy
• The platform must restrict access to enrolled students (e.g., Brightspace)
• The material is shown or used by/under the supervision of the instructor, confined to and comparable to that typically used in a face-to-face class, and available to students no longer than the class session.
• Reasonable efforts are made to prevent retention and dissemination of copyrighted works displayed electronically during the course of instruction.

You can also explore licensed video options available through the Blumberg Library:

Watch out for common mistakes that may violate copyright or accessibility policy.

• Uploading ripped DVDs or downloaded movies from unauthorized sources—even for teaching—can violate the law
• Linking to YouTube or TikTok videos is generally okay, but avoid downloading and reposting them
• Sharing subscription content (e.g., Netflix, Hulu) is not allowed—even if you personally have an account

Public Performance Rights (PPR) are required when you show a film outside of a face-to-face classroom setting—like at a club event, campus gathering, or conference.

• Campus events: Even free screenings usually require PPR unless the work is in the public domain or has an open license.
• Streaming databases: Most library-licensed films are cleared for class use, but not for public showings.