Legally showing films and television shows is either achieved through Fair Use as defined by the U.S. Copyright Act or by purchasing public performance rights from the copyright owner. Another option is showing video content available in the public domain with the appropriate Creative Commons license.
Copyright & Fair Use
Copyright and Fair Use are complex issues. It is the user's responsibility to comply with copyright laws.
- Copyright Basics (US circular) Circular provides an overview of the basic concepts of copyright. PDF U.S. Copyright Office
- Copyright Basics (Columbia U) A primer on copyright and fair use. Copyright Advisory Services, Columbia University
Public Domain Films
- List of films in the public domainA non-definitive list of films in the public domain in the United States. Being in the public domain refers to works that no government, organization, or individual owns and is considered common property. This list is not comprehensive, but provides you with resources to check. Links to view videos may be available on linked pages.
Wikipedia article
Public Performance Rights: DVDs
Thigpen Library does not purchase Public Performance Rights (PPR) for DVDs.
DVDs from Thigpen Library cannot be used for public screenings or shown to groups outside of a scheduled class. Vol State Libraries will not be held liable for misuse of a DVD from its collection.
Exceptions
Thigpen Library does not have PPR for The Color of Fear but the DVD can be used for a diversity program.
- Color of Fear copyright agreementCopyright agreement from StirFry Seminars & Consulting which holds exclusively the copyright and is the licensor Color of Fear.
Public Performance Rights: Streaming Videos
Public Performance Rights (PPR) are included with streaming videos in these library databases. Only streaming videos from these subscription databases can be shown to groups outside of a scheduled class.
Admission fees or other charges are NOT allowed
- Academic Video Online: Premium This link opens in a new window Multidisciplinary streaming video collection. Closed-captioned with transcripts
This link opens in a new window
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new window Multidisciplinary streaming video collection. Closed-captioned with transcripts
Restricted PPR
- Kanopy This link opens in a new windowViewing films in a group forum is permitted for all films for classroom viewings and most films for non-classroom group settings as long as the viewing is by authorized viewers and it is not for commercial benefit (i.e. no admission costs are charged and no profit is made from the screening). Please contact Kanopy direct and for confirmation that the film is available for a showing to a group forum.