Guidelines for Using Films & Other Media in the Classroom

We get asked this all the time so here's a simple answer- Yes, you can show films, movies, documentaries, tv episodes in your classroom so long as you follow a few easy steps.

• The media has to be a legitimate copy (no bootlegs, ripped files, etc.). If you are using a personal dvd copy or a library-owned dvd, you'll be okay. The Library also has several streaming video databases that include public performance rights. Kanopy, Films on Demand, and Academic Video Online all have great selections to choose from. See below for more info on PPR.
• The media needs to be used in the classroom or a space designated for classroom use (there's a provision in the TEACH Act for distance students). For more information about showing media for your distance learners, email academiccomputing@fairfield.edu.
• Must be shown to enhance the learning experience, not for recreation or strictly entertainment.

This all falls under Section 110(1) of Title 17 of the US Code

Guidelines for Film Screenings Outside of the Classroom

When you want to show a film, video, or television program at a group or club activity, at an organization event, or as a training exercise, you have to consider the rights of the those who own the copyright to the work you want to use. This consideration must be made regardless of who owns the video or where you obtained it. Copyright owners have certain rights, which are commonly known as public performance rights (PPR).

Public Performance Rights FAQ

What are public performance rights?

PPR are license agreements made with a film's rightsholder granting an individual or a group the legal right to publicly screen a film. Usually a PPR license is purchased for a fee, and it usually only covers a one-time screening of the film.
 

When is a performance considered "public?"

A public performance is one that is "open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered." (17 USC 106)

This includes any screening outside of the regular curriculum in the classroom, such as showing films for extracurricular events, or sponsored events by a center, club, or organizations.

Do I need to acquire PPR to show a film in my class?

In most cases, no. If you are showing a film in class as part of the curriculum, then you do not need to acquire PPR as per 17 USC 110.

The film I want to show is on Netflix. Can I stream this through my Netflix account in the classroom?

Netflix allows one-time educational screenings of some Netflix Original documentaries. For more information, see Netflix's policy on Educational Screenings of Documentaries. Netflix has also made a selection of their documentary features and series available on their YouTube channel. Subscription services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have very detailed membership agreements that may forbid the streaming of subscribed content in a classroom or other public venue. When you agree to the terms of membership, you enter into a contract and the terms of that contract override any applicable exception in copyright. So, if the membership agreement with Netflix prohibits the showing of the film in a classroom, you are bound by the terms of that agreement even if the face to face teaching exception would otherwise allow it.

We encourage instructors who plan to show films as part of their class, particularly when the class is taught online, to investigate the availability of films through Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and other subscription or short term rental streaming services and to require their students to access that content on their own through their own subscription or account, or contact the Library to see if we have a physical copy or if it available via our video databases.

I want to show a film outside of the classroom. I'd like to invite the university community and the public. What do I need to do?

You will need to acquire public performance rights in order to legally screen the film. Even though this is for educational purposes, taking the film out of the classroom setting and inviting guests other than your students qualifies your film as a "public performance". (Fair use covers film use in face-to-face classroom and some distance learning settings.) However, if the title exists in one of our video databases, then you don’t have to worry. Most titles in those collections come with PPR, as long you don’t charge any admission.

I'm a student and my club or organization wants to show a film. What do I need to do?

You will need to acquire public performance rights in order to legally screen the film. The showing of a film as part of a film series is viewed as entertainment even if hosted or sponsored by an educational group or club. No matter how educational the setting or how tied to the curriculum, this is generally considered not to be fair use and PPR must be obtained. However, if the title exists in one of our video databases, then you don’t have to worry. Most titles in those collections come with PPR, as long you don’t charge any admission.

How much do public performance rights usually cost?

Typically between 200-300 dollars for a one-time showing, sometimes more, sometimes less.

How do I acquire public performance rights?

Generally speaking, PPR can be purchased through a film's distributor. There are several large movie distributors and public performance rights licensing agencies that own the rights to hundreds of well-known films.

Information about PPR for Titles in our Video Databases

Kanopy

"Kanopy videos can be watched by any and all authorized viewers, whether in a group or individual viewing context.

Viewing films in a group forum is permitted for all films for classroom viewings, and most films for non-classroom group settings as long as the viewing is by authorized viewers and it is not for commercial benefit (i.e. no admission costs are charged and no profit is made from the screening)."

Academic Video Online (Alexander Street Press)

"Excluding the Film Platform collection, films available in Academic Video Online include limited public performance rights, which includes permission for classroom showings, as well as public screenings, as long as no admission is being charged."

Digital Concert Hall

"INSTITUTIONAL USERS may screen the streaming services within the INSTITUTION for

educational purposes and for the purpose of lectures. Any further use of the streaming services,

in particular, but not limited to the public performance of the streaming services (e.g. public

screening on the premises of the INSTITUTION) is prohibited."

Drama Online

Each play includes production enquiry information on who owns rights for the play and how to contact them.

Met Opera on Demand

"The MOoD and its content may only be used by authorized users for noncommerical private viewing by means of streaming through the MOoD service. Public performance or commercial use (including displays, performances, reproductions and distributions) of MOoD and its content, in whole or in part, are strictly prohibited.

No uses other than expressly provided for herein are permitted. Without limitation Licensee shall ensure that Authorized Users do not:

(a) Use MOoD, or use, display or make performances with, reproduce or distribute any Content from MOoD, for any commerical purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to public performance of the Contetn whether or not a fee or admission is paid by any attendee."

Films on Demand

“The Web Platform is licensed solely to Licensee and Authorized Users for classroom teaching, research, presentations, and educational non-commercial multimedia projects for use in educational institutions, provided no admission or other fees are charged for public viewing. Licensee and Authorized Users may stream, display, publicly perform, or exhibit the Video Titles asynchronously on a single computer or network, course management system, or password-protected Web Platform. Licensee and Authorized Users may electronically save, organize, and share Video Titles or parts thereof with other Authorized Users using tools provided with the Web Platform. Licensee may create and distribute transcripts.”

How/Where to Obtain PPR

• Search United States Copyright Office database of registered copyright holders
• Search the library catalog for publisher / distributor information.
• Search the Copyright Clearance Center
• Search WATCH (Writers, Artists and their Copyright Holders)

Copyright Licensing Agents

Broadcast Music, Inc represents over 350,000 creators of music, the songwriters, composers and publishers of more than 6.5 million musical works

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) licenses the right to perform songs and musical works created and owned by the songwriters, composers, lyricists and music publishers who are ASCAP members and also those members of foreign performing rights organizations who are represented by ASCAP in the United States.

Criterion Pictures USA is one of the largest non-theatrical providers of feature films in North America. In the United States, Criterion has exclusive relationships with some of Hollywood's largest film Studios, such as Paramount Pictures (select titles only), 20th Century Fox, Fox SearchLight, DreamWorks Animation, Troma Films, and New Concorde, among others.

Motion Picture Licensing Corporation is an independent copyright licensing agency that provides the Umbrella License to ensure copyright compliance for the public performance of motion pictures.

Netflix Media Center - grant of permission for educational screenings

Most films on Netflix do not include Public Performance Rights. Some documentaries, however, include a grant of permission for public screenings that allows for a one-time, free public showing of the film. To find whether a film has the permission, search for it by title in the Netflix Media Center. (For an example of the grant of permission, search “13^th”.)