Media Resources Collection

Copyright Information

Users of videos, television programs, and other copyrighted materials should become familiar with copyright laws and fair-use guidelines. Violations could lead to prosecution for copyright infringement.

Movies rented from video rental stores can be shown only as part of face-to-face teaching activities in a classroom, or similar place, devoted to instruction.

Announcements or posters inviting the general college community to a showing of a feature film (even if no admission is charged) are not legal. This prohibition also applies to features owned by the university. 

A television broadcast program may be taped and retained for a "45 day period" and can be shown once by individual teachers in a classroom, or similar place, devoted to instruction. The same television broadcast program can be shown only once more for instructional reinforcement.  After the first 10 school days in the 45-day retention period, the broadcast program may be used for evaluation purposes (i.e., to determine suitability for the curriculum), but it may not be used for student exhibition or any other non-evaluation purpose without authorization.  After 45 days, the video recording must be erased if authorization from the copyright holders has not been obtained.

A television program may not be recorded at home and used in the classroom, except under the 45 day fair-use guidelines. It is not permissible to keep a library of tapes recorded from television and use them in the classroom. Such a collection can be for private use only. Any duplication of a videocassette is illegal unless approved by the copyright holders.

For more information, see Copyright at UST