By Jason Dasinger

Copyright and Fair Use

Guidelines for Showing
Videos in Class!
What can you show &
what has to GO!?!

Before we look at what can or can

not be shown in the classroom, we
need to become familiar with two
definitions:

Copyright- the legal right to be the only one to reproduce,

publish, and sell a book, musical recording, etc., for a
certain period of time.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copyright
Fair Use- a legal doctrine that portions of copyrighted
materials may be used without permission of the copyright
owner provided the use is fair and reasonable, does not
substantially impair the value of the materials, and does not
curtail the profits reasonably expected by the owner
http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/fair+use?show=0&t=1381774709

Fair Use
Most of what we are going to show in the classroom is
covered under the fair use doctrine. As educators, we need
to make sure we are in direct compliance with the Fair Use
doctrine when showing videos in the classroom. Make sure
you can check off each of the following when showing a
video.

Purpose of Use
Nature of Copyright
Amount of Work Used
Market Effect

Enough Legalese, Please

I understand you may not understand most of the legal talk
so let me try to simplify the process of showing a video in
class.

Types of Video Use in the Classroom

Video (Viewing)
Teachers may use the
following in the classroom
for educational purposes

Videos
DVDs
Blu-Ray discs
Netflix/Iunes movies

Video (Multimedia or
Video Projects)
Students may use no more
than three minutes or ten
percent of a video in their
projects.

Videos
DVDs
Blu-Ray
Multimedia encyclopedias
Video Clips from the
Internet

The Fine Print

For Classroom use

Materials must be
legitimately acquired
Personal Copy, Schools
copy, or rented

Must be used in the

classroom or a non profit
environment
Use should be
instructional and not for a
reward.

Use in a Student Project

Materials must be legally
acquired (not a bootleg or
home recording)
Copyright works included
multimedia projects must
give proper attribution to
copyright holder

Scenario 1
Mr. Brown arrives to school and finds out the school copy of
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has been lost. Mr. Brown is
freaking out because he had planned his entire lesson
around a video clip from the movie. Mr. Brown believes he
will not be able to show the clip in class because there is no
longer an official school copy.

What is your advice for Mr. Brown?

Solution to Scenario 1
You should let Mr. Brown know that because he is showing
the movie for educational purposes, the fair use doctrine
covers the copyright issue. Just because there is not an
official school copy, Mr. Brown could rent the movie from the
store, rent the movie from ITunes, watch it on Netflix, or see if
the clip is available on YouTube.

Scenario 2
You have assigned your students a multimedia project to be
completed about the formal powers of the president.
Students will be finding corresponding videos, music, and
pictures to include in their presentation. The day of the
presentation, one student comes up to you in a panic. They
have two videos they would like to show, one from YouTube
and one from Encyclopedia Britannica, but they were told
they would violate copyright law if the videos were a part of
the presentation.
What should you tell your student?

Solution to Scenario 2
Reassure your student they would be allowed to show both
videos in their presentation. However, they will have to give
proper copyright attribution from the video from Encyclopedia
Britannica.

Scenario 3
As the Principal of your school, you are approached by Mrs.
Green about an end of the year party. She wants to provide
her students with a relaxing day filled with snacks and a
popular movie. Mrs. Green is adamant her students have
worked hard all year and deserve this party.
What copyright concerns, if any, do you have about Mrs. Greens
party?

Solution to Scenario 3
Congratulate Mrs. Green and her students on a job well done
this semester! Unfortunately, you cannot allow a movie
shown at the party. Mrs. Green stated the movie was a
reward for hard work, however, this does not fall under the
Fair Use doctrine. Showing this movie could have a negative
market affect for the DVD sales of that video and would be
considered copyright infringement.

Hopefully this has helped clear up some concerns

about copyright infringement and videos. If you
have any further questions please email @
jason.dasinger@cobbk12.org