In general, the consent of the rights holders is required to screen films, regardless of whether an admission fee is charged. However, an exception applies for educational purposes: Films may be shown as part of a class or course without prior authorization.
Which films may be used in the classroom?
- In Class (in person or live online) films may be shown in their entirety—regardless of whether they come from a DVD, television, or a streaming service.
- TV shows and films shown on television may be recorded in full by schools or school media libraries, shown in class, and made available on password-protected learning platforms, provided they are taken directly from the TV broadcast and that this is the sole source of the recording
- Commercially available films (z. B. DVDs) may not be stored in their entirety on learning platforms. Only cutouts are permitted online.
- Online films from streaming services may be used in their entirety in asynchronous instruction if they are not uploaded but only linked (e.g., on Moodle or OLAT).
Important to Know
- The rights described apply only to a specific class or module.
- General, permanent, or public distribution of films is not permitted.
Recommendations
- In-Person classes: DVDs, TV‑Shows, streaming services
- Synchronous online classes: DVDs, TV‑Shows, streaming services
- Asynchronous classes:
- Links to streaming services (full-length films)
- Recordings from TV (full-length films/programs)
Libraries are constantly expanding their offerings of university-relevant streaming solutions. If you have any questions, your library will be happy to help.
More Information: