Videos in the Library Collection

Copyright law has some notable allowances for showing video during course sessions. These provisions usually cover regularly scheduled, synchronous course sessions.

• DVDs in a classroom

DVDs and free streaming videos can be shown in physical classrooms.

Be sure to check on the ability to play a DVD in your classroom. The library has external DVD drives available for checkout which may help.

• DVDs via Zoom (with some limitations)

DVDs and free streaming videos can be shown in synchronous, online course sessions via Zoom, with some restrictions.

• Videos from Personal Streaming Services
  • Personal streaming services (Amazon, Disney+, Netflix, etc.) usually include "terms of service" which restricts usage to personal use only.
  • Personal streaming services usually employ technology which prevents their videos from being streamed via Zoom.

If you have a legally purchased DVD (your personal property or checked out from the Library), playing the DVD on your computer and sharing your screen via Zoom falls within copyright Fair Use under the following conditions:

1. The session cannot be recorded.
2. Only students registered for the course may attend the instructor's Zoom session.
3. Use only the portion of the film which is necessary to support the educational lesson. Do not show the whole film unless it is essential to the lesson/course.
4. Incorporate the DVD content into your pedagogy - commentary, learning outcomes, lecture, etc. - demonstrating the educational purpose of the viewing. (Courts weigh documentation and clear evidence of educational purpose as important and favorable to Fair Use.)

To Configure Zoom to Stream DVD content:

• Make sure your DVD is open and ready to play in a window.
• Share Screen in Zoom.
• Choose window with your DVD.
• Choose Share Sound and Optimize for Video Clip.

Non-DVD Content and Zoom

Zoom should be able to stream DVD content, but videos from most streaming services (Amazon, Disney+, Netflix etc.) usually have features which disable streaming via Zoom. Free streaming sites like YouTube can usually be streamed via Zoom and embedded in Canvas.

Credit: Based on information from Cal State LA and Claremont Colleges Libraries.