Video and Media Resources

Adhering to the Law

The Copyright Act of 1976 entitles copyright owners of a copyrighted work to determine how video content can be:

• reproduced
• adapted
• distributed
• displayed
• shown publicly

To learn more about copyright guidelines for videos and movies refer to this guide created by the American Library Association- https://libguides.ala.org/copyright/video

Fair Use

Use of small portions of video content for educational purposes tends to fall under guidelines of 'Fair Use.' To learn more about Fair Use, navigate to this overview provided by the Copyright Alliance- https://copyrightalliance.org/faqs/what-is-fair-use/ and see this inforgraphic created by the Association of Research Libraries.

The key factors of Fair Use are as follows:

• The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for non-profit educational purposes;
• The nature of the copyrighted work;
• The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
• The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Using a small portion of the film can be useful because it leaves more time for discussion and provides just enough audiovisual stimulation to provide students with context or better understanding of the topic.  Many libraries consider a small portion of a work to be around 10% of the total work but there is no percentage documentation listed within the law. When selecting media for a course, it may be useful to ask-

"how will this clip enhance student understanding and enlighten class discussion?"

Be aware of the TEACH ACT & the Digital Milennium Copyright Act

The TEACH ACT (https://www.ala.org/advocacy/copyright/teachact) and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (https://www.ala.org/advocacy/copyright/dmca) put guidelines in place for the use of technology but interpretations of Fair Use can provide some special exemptions. 

Put video items on course reserves through D2L

Steps to follow can be found on the "Adding Material to Reserves" site 

1. Login to your WCU D2L account
2. Select the course that will require materials from the library
3. Select the 'Resources' dropdown option and select 'Course Reserves'
4. Make sure you choose the current semester and then select the 'Add Reserve  Items'

To use video within your D2L site use these recommended practices provided by the D2L Brightspace Community:

• Create and manage audio-video content with Media Library
• Record audio-video content in Media Library
• Video note automatic captioning
• View and download audio-video transcripts
• Upload, store, and share files with the Locker tool
• Media Library Overview (video tutorial)

What is a public performance?

According to U.S. copyright law, a public performance is one of the following:

1. "a performance at a place open to the public or “at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered”
2. "a transmission to the public, to a place open to the public, or to “any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered,” regardless of whether people receive the performance in the same place or in different places, at the same time or at different times."

What are public performance rights (PPR)?

In order to screen a performance or video to the public, permission must be obtained from the rights holder. Public screenings tend to be related to outreach events, extracurricular or social activities. If the performance or video is being used within a course for teaching, it tends to fall under different guidelines for 'fair use.' See this guide on fair use provided by the copyright alliance (https://copyrightalliance.org/faqs/what-is-fair-use/).

What do I need to do to obtain PPR?

Contact the library for guidance. Some publishers or distributors may allow for public screenings if the screening is free to the public. Other publishers or distributors may request additional funds for public performance screenings and the cost may vary based on audience size, release date, frequency of screening, or any plans to charge admission to viewers.

Leave yourself with enough time to plan. If you are planning a public performance screening - give yourself a few weeks or months to sift through available details about licensing, time needed to contact a licensor or filmmaker, and prepare for possible costs.

If you sign up for an account with Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, or one of the major video streaming service companies you likely agreed to an end-user licence agreement (EULA). An end-user licence agreement is a legal contract between the software supplier and the end-user/customer.

Showing a streaming video from your personal account to your students could violate your legal agreement. Contact your subject librarian to find out if there is a copy that can be purchased with an institional license or if an alternative option can be found through one of the Libraries' subscription streaming platforms.

Cueing a video clip from YouTube

Have you found a stable video source on YouTube and now you want to link to that video?

1. Pause the video where you want it to start
2. Right click 
3. Select "Copy URL at current time"
4. Test the URL in another window before sharing it

Screen Capturing Clips

Want to capture a video for class?

1. Check to see if your WCU-issued computer has Snagit
2. No signs of Snagit? Click on the hyperlink on this page to request it for your work computer (https://www.wcupa.edu/infoServices/softwareAtWCU.aspx) 
3. Follow this WCU quickstart guide https://www.wcupa.edu/education-socialWork/technologyCenter/documents/SnagitPhotoQS.pdf 

Downloading Web Videos

Do you want to save a video you found on the web to your computer?

1. There are sites such as Keep Vid or Clip Converter that can help convert web-based videos  but it might be best to reach out to IS&T
2. Visit the IS&T Service Now page and submit a ticket (https://www.wcupa.edu/infoServices/serviceNow/)

Add a video clip to a presentation

How do I take my video clip and add it to my presentation?

1. For PowerPoint, use this guide or this guide
2. For Prezi, use this guide