Can I upload videos to the streaming server or post to a Queen's learning management system for educational purposes?

The Queen's Fair Dealing Policy permits a faculty member or administrative staff to make a copy of up to 10% of a copyright-protected audiovisual work for inclusion in a classroom presentation or in a learning management system. The Fair Dealing Policy does not however permit the circumvention of digital locks to obtain access to a copyright-protected audiovisual work.

Motion pictures and other audiovisual works that are published on DVDs are typically protected by a digital lock known as the Content Scrambling System (“CSS”). The Fair Dealing Policy does not apply if it is necessary to circumvent a CSS lock in order to copy a short excerpt of a copyright-protected audiovisual work recorded on DVD. It is however permissible to reproduce a short excerpt under the policy through using a video recording device, e.g. a camcorder, to record a short excerpt from a computer, television screen or projection. It is also permissible 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.

Resources

If you need full-length videos (or works that exceed the limitations of the Queen's fair dealing policy), contact your subject librarian or the Copyright Advisory Office and we can purchase streaming titles for the library collection. In addition, the library has a large (and growing) collection of streaming video databases, including:

  • Films on Demand
    A comprehensive collection of high-quality educational videos and documentaries. Featured producers include PBS, Films for the Humanities and Sciences, History Education, Nova, Ken Burns and the BBC.
  • Curio
    The curio.ca platform provides streaming access to the best in educational content from CBC and Radio-Canada. Documentaries from television and radio, news reports, archival material, stock shots and more — thousands of programs and resources can be accessed on this site. Includes English and French language content. Programs include The Nature of Things, Doc Zone, Dragons' Den, The Fifth Estate, The Passionate Eye, Monster Math Squad, The Current, News in Review, Marketplace and George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.
  • National Film Board
    A collection of over 1,100 streamed videos from the NFB.

More information about audiovisual works is available in the Application of the Fair Dealing Policy for Universities to Audiovisual Works (doc). Visit the Queen's Fair Dealing Policy web page to download a copy.

Copyright in the Digital Classroom

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