Audio Visual Materials
Can I show a movie from the Library collection to my class?
Can I show my own copy of a movie to a class?
Can I show a video off-campus?
Can I show movies anywhere on campus?
Can I create a DVD copy from VHS?
Can I record a TV program to show in class?
Can I show YouTube videos in class?
Can I play music in class?
Course Readings
Can I copy more than one article or more than one chapter from a source?
Handouts
Can I copy a journal article and hand it out to my students?
May I use copyrighted digital images in class handouts?
Presentations
Can I use copyrighted images in a Powerpoint presentation
Audio Visual Materials
Can I show a movie (feature film) from the library collection to my class?
Yes. The Copyright Modernization Act is in force as of November 7th, 2012 and public performance rights are no longer needed for displaying of movies (feature films and documentaries) in a classroom setting. All materials purchased by the library before November 2012 were purchased with public performance rights, but this is no longer a requirement for the purchasing of cinematographic works. You would still need rights in some cases if you are streaming on-line material, depending on the licence attached to that streaming content.
If you need further assistance, please contact the Audio Visual department of the Library (2nd floor, Library or ext. 5099).
Can I show my own copy of a movie (feature film) to a class?
Yes you can use your own copy, or a rented or borrowed copy of a work as long as such work is not an infringing copy and was legally obtained. The Copyright Modernization Act is in force as of November 7th, 2012 and public performance rights are no longer needed for displaying of movies (feature films and documentaries) in a classroom setting. You would still need rights in some cases if you are streaming on-line material, depending on the licence attached to that streaming content.
Can I borrow a video from the Library to show off-campus?
If the use is for an educational or training purpose and the audience is made up primarily of students, the answer is generally yes.
If the event is for profit or admission is charged, the answer is no. You would have to clear public performance rights through the distributor. Distributors may not agree to the use for advertising or if admission fees are charged.
Please contact the copyright owner or holder for clarification of rights beyond the purpose of education or training. The Audio Visual department of the Library (2nd floor, Library or ext. 5099) can facilitate the process by providing information on the company from which the video or film is purchased.
Can I show movies (feature films) anywhere on campus?
No, except in the classroom or for educational or training purposes. The copyright exception for public performance rights permit use only for education or training – often meaning the classroom. They do not allow the extended use in dormitories or student pubs or other functions such as information nights or career fairs.
Can I create a DVD copy from VHS?
No. Reproduction of works without permission from the copyright owner/holder is considered a breach of copyright. It is also a breach of the law to break any digital rights management technologies in order to format shift content or extract content. Please contact the Audio Visual department of the Library (2nd floor, Library or #5099). We will check the resources of other libraries/institutions to see if a legal copy can be loaned. Failing that, we will try to locate the copyright owner/holder to help you make the reproduction request..
Can I record a television program to show in class?
It depends.
- “News and news commentary programs” (but not documentaries) may be taped at the time of broadcast, copies can be retained and shown in the classroom, with no royalty fee.
- For documentary films and other works on television only if it is not commercially available. You must keep records and you may have to pay royalties.
- A single copy of other types of programs (e.g. sports, movies or documentaries), may be taped and retained for evaluation or review purpose (to determine the educational value of showing in class) for up to 30 days. If the copy is shown, you must pay the royalty fee set by the Copyright Board.
- The Audio Visual department of the Library (2nd floor, Library or #5099) can check whether the program can be purchased.
Check the Copyright Board Web Site for details about educational rights.
Can I show YouTube videos in class?
It depends.
Streaming video: You can show a YouTube video in class as no public performance rights are necessary in Canada. However, please check that the video has been posted by the legal copyright holder. You can also send a link to a YouTube video to your students for them to view privately. Please make sure you do not send links of material that have been illegally posted by a non-copyright holder.
Downloading or copying a YouTube video: You can only download or copy a YouTube video if the download button is activated for that content. The best way to make YouTube material available to your students is through linking.
Yes. The Copyright Act permits playing a sound recording or live radio broadcast in the classroom for educational purpose. However, to go beyond the classroom for non-educational purpose, a licence has to be obtained from SOCAN, (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) the copyright collective.
Can I copy more than one article or one chapter from a larger source (ex. four chapters from one book)?
Only if the four chapters make up less than 10% of the work.If the material is not covered under existing licences you can use the Toronto Metropolitan University Fair Dealing Guideline. If you go beyond these limits you will need permission to do so. You must obtain written permission from the copyright owner yourself if you exceed the amounts laid out in under existing licences or fair dealing guidelines. However, it is best if requests for material that you would like permissions for are directed to the Library E-Reserve Service. We will inquire about permissions on your behalf.
Handouts
Can I photocopy a journal article and hand it out to my students?
Sometimes using the TMU Fair Dealing Guideline. Please note:
- Follow the amount restrictions carefully.
- Do not staple several articles together. This will become an anthology or a course pack and would be considered a print course pack that might have to be tracked through the Bookstore.
- Do not charge students for your handouts.
- Avoid systematic or accumulative handouts that should have been provided to the students in a course pack format or as approved article links in D2L, made through the Library E-Reserve Service. For example, do not hand out your core course readings on a weekly basis. Make sure that the accumulated amount of the reading distributed to students from a single work does not exceed the Toronto Metropolitan University Fair Dealing Guideline.
- Some digital content from library licensed electronic databases can’t be handed out – but student can access this content on their own. SEE: Instructions on How to Check Library Licenced Material
- Public Domain and most Open Access and Creative Commons licenced material can be handed out in the classroom freely (please check which of the six different Creative Commons licence terms the material has been released under).
- Please make sure that all work is properly cited.
May I use copyrighted images in class handouts?
Yes, if the material is from a published work, and you remain within the Toronto Metropolitan University Fair Dealing Guideline. Also under a new exception Section 30.04: Work available through Internet you can use images that have been posted to the public Internet or web, as long as there is not a clearly visible notice prohibiting educational use, the image has been legally posted, and the site from which you take the material is not a password-protected site, and you do not break “digital locks” or technological protection measures (TPMs).
Library subscribed image databases (e.g. ARTStor) may permit display and print handouts for educational purposes. Please check terms of use of databases.
Presentations
May I use copyrighted images in PowerPoint presentations?
Yes, if projected in classroom. Under section 29.4(1) of the Copyright Act – Exceptions for Educational Institutions in the Canadian Copyright Act, copyrighted images and images of pages may be included in classroom presentations without permission as long as they are on display for educational purposes on the premises of the institution and there is no commercial version available at a reasonable price. Please include full attribution of this material. If the instructor makes a manual reproduction of material (a hand drawn, or computer drawn graph for example) for projection purposes the commercial version clause does not apply. As well you can use existing licences at the university to make image material available. To check Library-licenced material follow these instructions. Library subscribed image databases (e.g. ARTStor) usually permit classroom display for educational purposes. If these licences do not cover the work use the Toronto Metropolitan University Fair Dealing Guideline. If you use fair dealing please cite the souce of the material. For use of work beyond this you will need copyright permission. If you would like to use images in Powerpoint slides that you will post to D2L use the Toronto Metropolitan University Fair Dealing Guideline. Also please see Materials You can use Freely in your Teaching for other exceptions.