In The Classroom
Since 1976, Section 110(1) of the Copyright Act has included a provision allowing performances and displays of copyrighted material in the face-to-face classroom setting. The one condition is that the copyrighted material being displayed or performed originates from a legally obtained copy. It is legal for a philosophy professor to show the classic Francis Ford Coppola film The Godfather in a classroom setting if the film was obtained through such means as purchasing a legal DVD copy, using a legal streaming service such as Netflix, or by borrowing from a library. However, it is illegal for the professor to show the film if the source is, for example, a video illegally posted to YouTube or a bootleg DVD copy. At UC Merced, Kaltura provides instructors with a mechanism for showing films in classrooms without violating copyright. However, if an instructor wishes students to watch a film uploaded to a CatCourse page, different rules may apply. Please consult the Library before uploading anything to a CatCourse page.
Distance Education (the TEACH Act)
The rules are different, and more rigorous, when copyrighted materials are shared in ways that pose threats to the rights of copyright holders. This includes copyrighted materials that have been transmitted beyond the face-to-face setting, uploaded to websites, or are easily downloaded or copied by students and other users. To learn the details of what is allowed under the Teach Act, visit the American Library Association's webpage "Copyright: Distance Education and the TEACH Act."
It is important to note that Fair Use applies even in distance education and may allow legal use of copyrighted material beyond what is allowed under the TEACH Act. (See also: UC Fair Use for Teaching and Research.)
