copying a film for library reserve shelf?

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  • A professor has several films that he purchased in Europe to put on reserve for the students in his class to watch. He doesn't want to put the originals on reserve because the students might damage them or lose them, but wants to make a copy and put it on library reserve so the students can watch it. He purchased the original videos. Can he make these copies, or does it violate copyright? Thanks.
  • Hello Ed,

    If the professor wants to reproduce these movies, he will need to rely on the provisions of Fair Use and perform a four-factor analysis. It is helpful to use a Fair Use checklist, such as the one available from Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office (http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/fair-use/) to guide the four-factor analysis and document the results.

    If the professor gives the Library the films to put on reserve, you may also want to look at Section 108 (Reproductions by Libraries). Criteria for consideration under Section 108 would include whether the original is deteriorating or in an obsolete format.

    (Edited to clarify CAN Team member's assumption that the professor had given his personal copies to the Library!)
  • Because these videos appear to be owned by the professor personally and not by the library, I don't believe that section 108 would apply.

    Under section 110, the professor could show the videos in the classroom (or could incorporate portions into an online class session), but neither section 108 nor 110 would give him permission to copy entire videos to place on reserve.

    If any of the movies are currently available for purchase, the safest solution (other than the professor risking having his videos lost/damaged) might be for the library to purchase DVDs for the library collection and to place on reserve. If the movies are no longer commercially available for purchase, asking for permission to make copies for the library collection might be a good course of action, especially if the professor plans to use in future classes.
  • i would like to ask that if the professor wants to transfer the ownership of Original then what he has to follow . If he gives that original one to his friend forever . Is it the violation of copyright laws or not . Thanks
  • I think this depends on countries. Every country has different copyright law and thus u should tell us which country is this? I mean the professor is from which country.
  • A professor has several films that he purchased in Europe to put on reserve for the students in his class to watch. He doesn't want to put the originals on reserve because the students might damage them or lose them, but wants to make a copy and put it on library reserve so the students can watch it. He purchased the original videos. Can he make these copies, or does it violate copyright? Thanks[color=#f1f1f1]buy marijuana seeds[/color] [color=#f1f1f1]buy weed seeds[/color][color=#f1f1f1]og kush seeds[/color] [color=#f1f1f1]c 99 seeds[/color]
    Lol, it sounds a bit like a riddle! :) But ye, i would say because they are his property, and not the library's, then he is within his rights to copy his own material :) [color=#dedfdf]crate training puppies[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy aggression[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy whining[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy growling[/color] [color=#dedfdf]weaning puppies[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy chewing[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy separation anxiety[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy crying[/color] [color=#dedfdf]how to leash train a puppy[/color] [color=#dedfdf]why do dogs eat grass[/color] [color=#dedfdf]why do dogs eat poop[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy toilet training[/color] [color=#dedfdf]how to train a puppy[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy training tips[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy barking[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy biting[/color] [color=#dedfdf]house training a puppy[/color] [color=#dedfdf]puppy feeding schedule[/color][color=#dedfdf]buy cannabis seeds[/color] [color=#dedfdf]cannabis seeds for sale in usa[/color] [color=#dedfdf]pot seeds[/color] [color=#dedfdf]marijuana seeds feminized[/color] [color=#dedfdf]medical marijuana seeds for sale[/color] [color=#dedfdf]seed bank reviews[/color] [color=#dedfdf]lemon skunk seeds[/color]
  • Hi Laura~

    I'm not sure what your rationale is for saying that the professor could copy the videos if he owns them. I assume from the original question that the professor videotapes or DVDs, not that he purchased full rights to the content. If that's the case, he does own that copy, and, barring a license agreement to the contrary, he can give it to the library, at least in the US. He may still have the right to copy under fair use, but I don't see how he would other than that. I suppose it's possible that he bought the rights, and can do what he will with the films, but that seems unlikely.

    Perhaps I'm typing this too late on a Friday and I'm reading your post incorrectly.
  • Once again I know that I'm posting in older thread, but I always wondered about the logistics of copying materials for others to utilize. I really, really do appreciate the info! Still, it appears that there are so many road blocks as well as loop-holes. From what I've gathered by such examples, copyright litigation and copyright infringement goes on a case by case basis. Nothing is black and white. Someone copying videos and actually selling them will undoubtedly get in a whole lot more trouble than someone copying it for their student to utilize. What do you guys think? Am I right on this one?
  • Dear L,
    Not completely right but not completely wrong, either. Yes, the copyright law has some loop-holes and was purposely left open for interpretation but as far as what type of copying would get into trouble it is up to the court to decide. There are exceptions to the copyright law for educational purposes and if copying for students fits the criteria then it's likely to be OK.

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