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2.5 Film, Video / DVD

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Overview

In this section, the term 'film' refers to all audio-visual material such as film, video / DVDs that shows moving images with or without sound.

Film includes anything which:

  • is capable of being shown as moving images (film, video / DVD)
  • is capable of being embodied in another article or thing which can be used to show the moving picture (eg an electronic file which can show the moving images when used with particular software: eg Windows Media Player)
  • includes the soundtrack accompanying the moving images

Examples of films include:

  • feature, short and documentary films
  • animations or cartoons
  • television programs
  • film trailers
  • television advertisements
  • corporate or education videos
  • video and computer games
  • podcasts and vodcasts of audiovisual material.

Who owns copyright in the film?

In general, the copyright owner of a film will be the film production company. If the film is commissioned by the educational institution (for example a school pays a production company to make a training or educational video), the educational institution, not the film production company, will usually be the copyright owner of the video.

It is very important to be aware that the copyright in underlying works incorporated in film (eg screenplays, music, art works) may be retained by the author of each of those works, not by the film production company.

See 1.5: Who owns Copyright? for further information

Copying and communicating film

In general, copyright in a film will not be infringed where the copy or communication is done:

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  1.  Fair dealing 

    The copying of a film for fair dealing purposes is free and does not require the permission of the copyright owner. The fair dealing exceptions most relevant for educational institutions and students are:

    • research or study - eg a student can copy and use the film either as part of their studies (provided the film is not used outside the classroom); or for the purposes of comparing lighting techniques, angles or themes; or to make a pastiche of extracts of a film/video as part of their studies
    • criticism or review - eg reviewing a film or DVD
    • parody or satire – eg including part of a film in a PowerPoint presentation to make a satirical point about something related to the film.

      See 1.13: Copyright Exceptions for further information

  2. Flexible dealings 

    Schools and TAFE institutes can now use a film for non-commercial teaching purposes if the use is not covered by another exception or Voluntary Licence . In order to use the flexible dealings exception, teachers must assess whether:

    • the proposed use is narrow
    • it would conflict with a normal way the copyright owner exploits the material and
    • the use would unreasonably harm the copyright owner.

    One example of an activity covered by the flexible dealings exception is a teacher who wants to show several short extracts of a film in class could copy the short extracts to a DVD to make their teaching easier.

    Teachers should note that:

    • it is not usually possible to copy an entire film unless the film is not commercially available in the form needed by the time the film is needed for class; and
    • teachers are not permitted to circumvent an access control TPM to make a copy of a film.
  3. Educational exceptions
    1. Screening films (videos / DVDs) in class

      Copyright is not infringed where a film (video / DVD) is screened in class if:

      • it is in the course of education and is not for profit and
      • the people in the audience or class are giving or receiving instruction or are directly connected with the place where the instruction is given
    2. Communicating a film for classroom performance

      Schools and TAFE institutes can communicate  a film to enable it to be screened in class (eg streaming a film from the Internet, showing a film to a virtual class or transmitting a film on DVD from a centralised player to a screen in a classroom).

  4. Other statutory exceptions
    1. Filming sculptures and other artworks in public places [Link to 2.2 Artistic works and Photographs (d)(i)]
    2. Filming buildings or models of buildings [Link to 2.2 Artistic Works and Photographs (d)(i)]
    3. Incidental filming of artworks [Link to 2.2 Artistic Works and Photographs (d)(ii)]

      See 2.2: Artistic Works and Photographs for further information

  5. Statutory Licence 

    The Statutory Broadcast Licence will apply to all film and video which is recorded from broadcasts (eg TV). These recordings may be shown in class for educational purposes, subject to the marking and notice requirements. However, the Statutory Licence will not apply to a film, video / DVD which is commercially hired or bought by the school, its teachers or students.

    See Education Licence A: Statutory Broadcast Licence for further information

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