Copyright and Intellectual Property

In May 2023 Learning on Screen released a Code of Fair Practice for the use of Audiovisual Works in Film Education to help promote the lawful use of audiovisual materials for educational purposes.

The Code of Fair Practice helps educators and students understand how to use films and audiovisual materials legally in teaching, learning, and creative work. It’s based on UK copyright law and the principle of fair dealing, offering practical advice for everyday academic use.

✅ What You Can Do (Under Fair Dealing)

• Screen Films for Study
  Show full films or clips in class or online (via secure platforms) for educational purposes.

• Use Clips in Creative Work
  Include short excerpts in essays, mash-ups, or video projects, especially for critique or analysis.

• Digitise Physical Media
  Convert DVDs or other lawful copies to digital format for student access, if no licensed version is available.

• Share Student Work
  Publish student projects using film clips, as long as they don’t replace the original work or harm its market.

❌ What You Can’t Do

• Use Personal Streaming Accounts
  Avoid showing films via personal Netflix, Prime, etc., in class or recordings.

• Upload Full Films Online
  Don’t share entire films on public platforms (e.g., YouTube, institutional websites).

• Circumvent Copy Protection
  It’s illegal to bypass encryption or DRM on DVDs or Blu-rays to make copies.

• Use Films Without Context
  Clips must be used with clear educational or critical purpose—not just for entertainment.

Online Video (YouTube)

When adding video clips to your teaching materials, Box of Broadcasts (BoB) is your best option. However, if you can't find what you need there, you might be able to use YouTube videos if you follow these guidelines:

• Non-Commercial Use: The video must be for educational purposes, not for profit.

• Illustrative, Not Decorative: Use videos that directly support your teaching point, rather than just being a visual extra.

• Keep it Short (Fair Dealing): Only use a short extract of the video, not the whole thing. This falls under "fair dealing," which means you're using an acceptable amount of the copyrighted work. For example, a single scene from a film is usually fine, but the entire movie isn't.

• Proper Attribution: Always fully credit the video source using your department's referencing system. Don't just paste a link.

• Official Channels: Whenever possible, use videos from the official YouTube channel of the rights holder (e.g., a film studio or TV network).

• Embed for Presentations: If you're using a YouTube video in a presentation, embed it directly into your presentation software. Avoid simply linking to it or having it open in a separate browser window.

Music

Using commercial music is highly restrictive. While the university has a Performing Rights Society Licence for music used in official qualifications, adding commercial music to WebLearn typically requires expensive permission from rights holders. It's best to avoid commercial music unless absolutely essential.

You can record television and radio broadcasts to show in the classroom, provided you follow the conditions of the university’s Education Recording Agency (ERA) licence.

See the ERA Licence page for more details on what this covers.