Using film and video material

When using film and video material as part of teaching your course you need to ensure the use is for educational purposes.

Films

The University has a licence (Screenrights) that covers the educational use of commercial films.

Playing films for educational purposes

Films may be played to an educational audience for instructional purposes, where only staff and students from a class are to be present. See Copyright Act Section 45

Under the Copyright Act you need permission to play or show a film in public.

If you are showing a film that is open to the public or intending to charge for attendance, you should contact the Copyright Officer copyright@vuw.ac.nz to discuss.

Copying a film or film soundtrack

You can only make copies of a film or video if the lesson consists of or includes the making of a film, or a soundtrack, but you can show it to a class for educational purposes.

A film or film soundtrack may only be copied from a physical source (i.e. VHS, DVD) for preparing for and for use in the course of instruction, providing the copying is done by or on behalf of a person giving or taking the course on how to make films or film soundtracks; no charge is made for the copy; the film is placed into a secure online delivery platform (Panopto via Nuku) and access is for enrolled students for the duration of the course.

TV shows, broadcasts and podcasts

The University has a licence with Screenrights which allows the University to copy radio and television programmes for use in teaching and research.

Remember that linking to content is preferable and easier than copying. Under the Screenrights licence you can copy:

  • Any programme shown on television, including movies, documentaries, Māori language programmes, news and current affairs
  • From anywhere or from any channel e.g. at home, from pay or free to air broadcast, (provided the user licence allows)
  • AV material legally available online—download podcasts, or programmes from the internet e.g. YouTube.