Q. Can I use movies and television in class?

A new amendment in the Copyright Act allows a movie to be shown in class, providing that it is a legally obtained copy. The work must be shown on the premises of the educational institution for education or training purposes and must be shown to an audience that is composed mainly of students of the institution.

Section 29.5: EDUCATIONAL EXCEPTIONS
The performance in public of a cinematographic work (is not an infringement of copyright), as long as the work is not an infringing copy or the person responsible for the performance has no reasonable grounds to believe that it is an infringing copy.

You may also:

• Show a television show at the time of broadcast or through telecommunication by the Internet
• Record a television show and review it for up to thirty days
• Record a news program and use in a classroom

You may not:

• Record a television show other than a news program and then show in classroom
• Show an audiovisual work that is an illegal copy (downloaded from a pirated copy from the Web or if any technological protected measures have been disabled, etc.)

Cinematographic works that are being shown for entertainment or conference purposes will not be covered by the educational exception and may require licenses prior to viewing.

For more information, contact the Visual and Performing Arts Library or the Copyright Officer Rowena Wake.

Last Updated Aug. 1, 2012