The use of videos, DVDs and other visual media is governed by various copyright and licensing restrictions. Here is a brief summary of some of the provisions that govern the use of media:
Materials licensed as Home Use Only may not be used in a classroom or anywhere on campus. Individuals must take these programs home for private viewing. This licensing restriction applies to the showing of portions (ie. short clips) as well as to the entire program. Materials licensed for Home Use Only are clearly noted as such in the library catalogue record.
Materials licensed for Public Performance may be used on campus and in classrooms, provided that no fee is charged for the viewing. For many productions, the purchase of Public Performance Rights add substantially to the price. Wherever possible, the library attempts to buy titles that are licensed for Public Performance.
Search for your video/DVD in the
library catalogue then check the Local Note field to see if it has public performance rights.
Douglas College Library has purchased a limited Public Performance site license for feature films. Under the terms of this agreement, a wide selection of feature films may be viewed on campus and in classroom teaching, for the duration of the license. Note that this license applies only to use by Douglas College employees and students for College-related instruction and learning and does not apply to any external use of feature films. The license is purchased for a one year term. The site license applies to feature films distributed by a range of studios, which are represented by Audio-Cine Films Inc. and Criterion Pictures Ltd. The studios include 20th Century Fox, Alliance, Disney, Paramount, MGM, Miramax, United Artists, Tristar, Warner Brothers, and many others.
The library catalogue identifies feature films that are covered by this license using the following note in the record: Limited Public Performance license applies. A list of feature films in the collection that are covered by the license may be requested from the library.
For a list of the studios covered under the license, as well as other information about Public Performance Rights and feature film titles, go to:
Certain titles have been purchased under a special license agreement, under the provisions of the Advanced Education Media Acquisitions Centre (AEMAC). These titles are licensed for Post-Secondary educational use only. Community borrowers may not use the AEMAC licensed videos. Certain titles may be licensed for a limited time only and must be withdrawn from the collection after the expiry date. Titles licensed through AEMAC are indicated as such in the library catalogue with the note:
MEC use only.
Certain titles in the library's collection are only licensed to be used by Douglas College Library patrons and may not be lent to other libraries.
Current Copyright legislation makes a distinction between "news and News Commentary" programs and all other types of programming. For news and commentary programs, an educational institution can make an off air recording to be used in classroom instruction free of charge for up to one year. For any other type of program, an educational institution can make a copy to be used for preview purposes only (i.e., no classroom use) and retained for 30 days only. After the expiration date, the tapes must be erased.
Requests for off-air taping of news and news commentary programs should be sent to CEIT. It is advisable to submit requests several days in advance.
At the end of the year (for news programs) or end of 30 days (for other programs) the educational institution can, in theory, retain the program by paying a fee to a copyright collective, which has been empowered to collect royalties. At present, no such copyright exists.
Unfortunately, not everything shown on television is available for purchase, and in most cases it can take some time (up to a year) before a program is released for distribution in video format. Recommend a title for purchase.
