Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Music 

The Copyright Act includes an exception that permits the performance of music in the classroom for educational purposes. In order to make use of this exception, the following conditions must be met: 

• the music must be performed on the premises of the university; 
• the music must be performed for educational or training-related purposes; 
• the music must not be performed for profit; 
• the audience must consist primarily of students; 
• the music being performed must not be an infringing copy of a sound recording; and
• the performance of the music must be facilitated by the person directly responsible for setting the curriculum (the professor or instructor). 

Music that is available through publicly accessible online sources can be performed in the classroom if the following conditions are met: 

• the online source and the music must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the content without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees); 
• the music must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available to the public online by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the content, and avoid content that is accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended');  
• the music must not be accompanied by a clearly visible notice that prohibits educational or non-commercial use; and 
• access to and use of the content must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks of any kind (avoid images that have been watermarked, avoid text that cannot be downloaded or copied and pasted, and avoid videos and music that cannot be played in your geographic location).

Please note that while Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc. are legitimate online sources of music, they are not publicly accessible online sources of music. Subscriptions to these streaming services require accounts and agreements to Terms of Use/Service which restrict access to personal and household use. These streaming services should not be used in the classroom. 

Videos

The Copyright Act includes an exception that permits the performance of cinematographic works in the classroom for educational purposes. In order to make use of this exception, the following conditions must be met: 

• the video must be performed on the premises of the university; 
• the video must be performed for educational or training-related purposes; 
• the video must not be performed for profit; 
• the audience must consist primarily of students; 
• the video must not be an infringing copy of a cinematographic work; and 
• the performance of the video must be facilitated by the person directly responsible for setting the curriculum (professor or instructor). 

Videos that are available through publicly accessible online sources can be performed in the classroom if the following conditions are met: 

• the online source and the video must be publicly accessible (you must be able to access the content without creating an account, logging in to a website, subscribing to a website, platform, or online service, or paying any fees); 
• the video must be legitimate (not an infringing copy) and must have been made available to the public online by the copyright owner (consult verified accounts and trusted websites, consider the validity of the usernames of those who posted or uploaded the content, and avoid content that is accompanied by disclaimers that state 'no copyright infringement intended'); 
• the video must not be accompanied by a clearly visible notice that prohibits educational or non-commercial use; and 
• access to and use of the video must not be restricted by technological protection measures or digital locks of any kind (avoid images that have been watermarked, avoid text that cannot be downloaded or copied and pasted, and avoid videos and music that cannot be played in your geographic location). 

Please note that while Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV, HBO Max, etc. are legitimate online sources of videos, they are not publicly accessible online sources of videos. Subscriptions to these streaming services require accounts and agreements to Terms of Use/Service which restrict access to personal and household use. These streaming services should not be used in classrooms.  

Queen's University Library subscribes to a number of streaming video services which can be used in classrooms and linked to via onQ course sites. 

For more information, please see our Copyright in the Classroom page. 

Questions about music, videos, public performance rights, and the use of online content for educational purposes can be directed to the Copyright Advisory Office: qcopy@queensu.ca.