Video/Audiovisual Material

Questions related to use of videos or other audiovisual materials.

55. May I stream an audiovisual work from a streaming website, including Netflix?

The streaming subscriptions that the Media Resources Library has with CBC Curio, Criterion Pictures, Digitalia, the NFB, and Psychotherapy.net are intended for educational use.

54. Can I change the format of audiovisual materials for accessibility purposes?

Permission is required to change formats for accessibility purposes. Using existing closed-captioned media is encouraged. The cost of making a request to a vendor to close caption, or to modify a non-closed-captioned DVD from a television series can be very costly and time consuming.  

40. What kind of print materials can be placed on Course Reserve? 

  • Personal materials of instructors, for which they own the copyright (e.g., assignment questions/solutions).  

  • Original print books, textbooks, legally obtained DVDs and CDs, etc.

  • Courseware for the current academic term.

34. Are there any databases of materials that I can use for free without worrying about copyright restrictions?

Yes. There is a wealth of material out there that either is in the public domain or is available under what is known as a Creative Commons licence, which generally means the work is available for free but is subject to certain limited conditions, such as non-commercial use only and acknowledgement of the creator.

32. May I play videos/movies/films in class?

You may play videos/films/movies in class under the following circumstances:

29. Is there any difference between posting something on my own website versus posting something on one of Waterloo's learning management systems (such as LEARN)?

Yes. Posting something on your own website means you are making the work openly available worldwide. Wide distribution tends toward the conclusion that the dealing is not “fair,” and such uses are unlikely to be covered by any University licences. By contrast, Waterloo's learning management systems are password-protected, secure websites that are accessible to students enrolled in university courses. In some cases, posting material on a learning management system will be covered by one of the University’s electronic subscriptions.

22. May I include links to videos from a free platform such as YouTube or Vimeo, or embed the videos on a learning management system such as LEARN?

Videos from a free online service should be used only if you have a reasonable belief that they were uploaded legally. A good way to check this is to look at what account posted a video. For example, if the official account for BBC News or the producer of a documentary uploaded a video, the content is more likely to be a legal copy. If an account belonging to an individual who does not appear to be connected to a project uploads a copy of a full-length feature film, it is likely not a legal copy.