Video Copyright Guidelines
Under the Copyright Act of Canada, any film used in a public place must have Public Performance Rights (PPR). Classrooms, student lounges, etc. are considered public places.
Films, videos, and DVDs in the Beryl Ivey Library collection are purchased with public performance rights, which allows them to be shown in the classroom.
In addition, through the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), the library has licensed PPR access to the full suite of National Film Board films, documentaries, animations and alternative dramas on the web. To discover what's available, go to NFB.ca. Television news programs can be copied and played in classes provided it is done within a year of the program being aired. Documentaries are not covered by this provision.
As commercial feature films and DVDs typically do not come with PPR, they need to be covered by an annual site licence with one of the two major Canadian distributors of feature films, Criterion Pictures and Audio Cine Films, Inc. The studios or producers whose work is covered by the site licences can be found by following the foregoing links. If the video is produced by a studio covered by the College’s site licence, it may be shown legally on Brescia property. The videos/DVDs must be legal copies and can be rented, purchased, borrowed or personal copies.
The Copyright Act applies even if ...
- Films are rented, purchased or personally owned;
- Films are only partially shown, e.g. just "clips";
- Films are shown within a non-profit, educational context;
- Films are shown to small groups.
Many people can be held accountable when the Copyright Act is violated: you and/or the College may be subject to substantial civil and criminal penalties, which can include hefty fines, imprisonment or both.
Please contact Jim Mei, Director of Library Services for further information.