Can instructors screen works from Netflix, Amazon.com, Hulu, Disney Plus, YouTube, Kanopy, or any other streaming provider?
Answer
That depends! That's a classic lawyer answer, but yes, it really does "depend."
Specifically, it depends on the license that the instructor or their institution signs with the streaming provider. Unfortunately, most major streamers (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney, etc.) do not offer institutional licenses for campuses, which means their licenses are usually for “personal use”.
The Libraries license Kanopy and other educational services for use on campus; see the "Streaming Media Resources" guide for more info. Also, most publicly available YouTube, Vimeo, and Internet Archive videos are licensed for public performance–but you should check the license to know for sure.
You can always reach out to the Copyright & Information Policy librarian for questions: copyright@umass.edu.
Further Resources:
- Streaming Media Resources, UMass Libraries