Copyright 

Copyright Law can be nuanced and difficult to understand. Maybe we can help clear up some of the confusion. Here are a few commonly asked questions that come up in an educational setting:

Can I stream a YouTube video in my classroom?

Yes, you can stream a YouTube video in your classroom, but it depends on a few factors: 

• Copyright: YouTube videos are protected by copyright, so you should check the video's license terms or YouTube's Terms of Service. Some videos may be under a Creative Commons license, which allows for classroom streaming. 

• Legal copy: Make sure the video is a legal copy. For example, a video on a YouTube channel other than the artist's official channel is likely an illegal copy. 

• Educational use: You should be using the video for educational purposes, and your use should be non-commercial.

You can also attach a YouTube video to an assignment in Google Classroom or Canvas. Some other things to consider include: 

• If you need to copy the content, you should get permission from the rights owner. 

• If you modify the content, you will need the rights owner's permission. 

• You may need to get additional clearance for any third party content embedded in the video, such as music, logos, or trademarks. 

• Playing YouTube videos in class can be tricky because ads or other videos can distract students. 

Can I show Inside Out to my class using my Disney+ account?

Most commercial streaming services have clauses in their Terms of Use, Subscriber Agreement, or Terms of Service that prohibit the broadcasting of their content in any other setting than private and personal. Meaning that streaming content from these services either in a physical classroom or in an online classroom violates these agreements. Disney has not made provisions for educational screenings of its content through personal accounts. While classroom use would be non-commercial, it would not be considered personal use. Streaming Disney+ / ESPN+/Amazon Prime content in a classroom setting would be a direct violation of licensing terms.

Can I stream a Netflix Documentary for my class?

Netflix allows some of its documentaries to be shown in a face-to-face educational setting, however you must check to see if the content has a "Grant of Permission for Educational Screenings" or if they are included on Netflix's YouTube playlist of educational documentaries.

• Educational Screenings of Documentaries | Netflix Help Center
  The official page from Netflix about educational screenings.

My student forgot their sheet music for our concert tonight. May I make a copy of it?

In this case, the fair use doctrine would permit an emergency copy to be made for the purpose of the concert. The copy could be used during the concert as long as it is later replaced by a purchased copy. The same would be true if you are teaching and the student forgets an instruction book for the class. You could make an emergency copy of a page from your instruction book for use during the class. That copy should later be destroyed and replaced by the purchased instruction book. If the student has lost the instruction book, they would have to repurchase another book to take its place.

My student wants to use a picture from the National Archives for their presentation. Is this legal?

Copyright doesn’t apply to facts and public information, print maps, or government documents or pictures, so images and text from sources like NASA, the Smithsonian, and the National Archives can be used without permission.