Copyright Audiovisual Content

AUDIOVISUAL CONTENT

The provisions of copyright law that distinguish between fair use and infringement are applicable to audiovisual works in all formats.   These formats include CDs, DVDs, films, filmstrips, recordings, slides, tapes, video-tape and video cassettes.


Use of an entire audiovisual work is within fair use provisions of copyright law when:

  1. It is a legally obtained copy (preferably owned by or licensed to the Library or College); and
  2. The use is clearly for educational purposes; and
  3. The work is made available by an instructor to the enrolled students of a specific course through the Library Reserve Collection; or
  4. The work is made available in a face-to face presentation:
    •  by an instructor, student or guest lecturer
    •  to the enrolled students of a specific course
    •  in the classroom or other College space used for instruction

When copying content for classroom use, less is best.  The greater the amount copied, the less likely that fair use exemptions will apply.  Best practices recommend copying only the portion required to accomplish a specific educational goal, which may sometimes include small or short works in their entirety.  Copied content may be made available online if access is restricted to the enrolled students of a specific course and copying or distribution for non-educational purposes is prohibited. 

Always include appropriate attribution and copyright notice when using copyrighted works.

NOTE:  Copyrighted material, in whole or in part, may not be retained without permission of the copyright owner in the Library Reserve Collection or remain accessible online over consecutive semesters for the same course.

It is illegal to download or upload digital copies of audiovisual material via peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.  In general, it requires the permission of the copyright holder to reproduce, adapt, or distribute any commercial audio or visual recording.   

Public performances of audiovisual material generally require permission of the copyright holder in the form of Public Performance Rights (PPR) and may incur a fee.

For additional assistance, please contact Diane Norton.