If the service and/or film, has provisions for educational screenings on its content and it is available for purchase, the library might be able to purchase a one-time educational screening license or purchase the film for students to view individually through the library catalog's databases or for check out (i.e. DVD, CD)
Most streaming services have very detailed membership agreements that may forbid the streaming of subscribed content in a classroom or other public venue. When you agree to the terms of membership, you enter into a contract and the terms of that contract trump any applicable exception in copyright. Therefore, if the membership agreement prohibits the showing of the film in a classroom, you are bound by the terms of that agreement even if the face to face teaching exception would otherwise allow it.
This page was modified from content presented in University of Michigan's Media in the Classroom library guide.
To find more streaming video options, click on the 'Commercial Streaming Services' box below. There are many sources for streaming video content available that students can access on their own for free.
We encourage instructors who plan to show films as part of their class, particularly when the class is taught online, to investigate options that do not require their students to pay for access via memberships or subscriptions, to provide equity in access to free learning materials and remove financial barriers for students.
Please reach out to your subject librarian for additional options regarding streaming video.
Visit the Affordable Learning Solutions library guide to learn more about using OERs for educational equity.
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." Netflix has created a YouTube playlist of over 40 of its educational documentaries for instructors to stream in their online classes.
When agreeing to Hulu Terms and Conditions upon account creation, specifications state that "using the services, including accessing and viewing the Content on a streaming-only basis, [is for] personal, non-commercial purposes."
Hulu has not made provisions for educational screenings of its content. While classroom use would be non-commercial, it would not be considered personal use. Streaming Hulu content in a classroom setting would be a direct violation of licensing terms (section 3a).
When agreeing to HBO Terms of Use upon account creation, specifications state that "You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, enter into a database, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any way exploit any part of this Service, except that you may access and display material and all other content displayed on this Service for non-commercial, personal, entertainment use on a single computer or device only."
HBO 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 HBO content in a classroom setting would be a direct violation of licensing terms (section 6a).
When agreeing to Amazon Prime Video Terms and Conditions upon account creation, specifications state that "Amazon grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, limited license, during the applicable Viewing Period, to access and view the Digital Content in accordance with the Usage Rules, for personal, non-commercial, private use."
Amazon has not made provisions for educational screenings of its content. While classroom use would be non-commercial, it would not be considered personal/private use. Streaming Amazon content in a classroom setting would be a direct violation of licensing terms (section 4h).
