Multimedia Viewing / Listening

Showing an entire movie or film or musical work online does represent more of a copyright issue than playing it in class - but there may be options for your students to access it independently online. NWP Learning Commons already has some licensed streaming content which you are welcome to use in your online course. Find multimedia content from the resources listed on this page.

We may be able to purchase streaming access for additional media, but as this takes time, standard commercial streaming options like commonly subscribed to services like Netflix, Crave, Disney Plus or Spotify and Apple Music that students may also subscribe to and can access using their own accounts may sometimes be the easiest option. (For exclusive content, the commercial services may be the only option.) Copyright exception Section 30.01 can also apply, contact the Copyright Librarian if you need help to implement this copyright exception as there are rules that need to be followed to use it: such as copying without breaking TPMs; a clear notice to students; and you need to delete the copy in the course management system, or password protected location you posted the audiovisual material within 30 days after course evaluations have been issued.

What can you do if you have a scheduled screening for a film that is not available online?

If you have a scheduled film screening and the film is not available digitally through one of our electronic databases, you may be able to conduct a virtual screening using the distance education exception in the Copyright Act (Section 30.01). This exception is not widely used as it includes a variety of requirements, such as:

• You must not break a technical protection measure (Section 41.1) when you make the copy. The easiest way to make a copy without breaking a TPM is to use screen capture software that enables the copying of DVD content after the content has been lawfully decrypted by a licensed computer DVD player. The document Fair Dealing Guidelines to Audiovisual Works gives more information about copying audiovisual works.
• You must clearly post that the copy is being made using this exception such as “You are receiving access to this teaching resource under Section 30.01 of the Copyright Act, for use in this class only. If you retain a copy, this exception requires that you delete the copy 30 days after you have received the final evaluation for the course.” 
• You must delete the copy in the D2L system, or password protected location you posted the audiovisual material within 30 days after course evaluations have been issued. 

One way to meet the requirements of this section may be to live-stream the screening (accessible only to your students).  If you do make a recording, please contact the Copyright Librarian to ensure that you meet the requirements above.

Attribution

This resource is adapted for NWP from material provided by the University of Calgary and their Copyright Office, University of Minnesota document Copyright Services, Rapidly shifting your course from in-person to online. Unless otherwise noted, all content on the Copyright Information section of this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License. We would like to acknowledge some contribution of adaptation language from University of Toronto Scholarly Communications & Copyright Office and Ryerson University Library.