Can I show videos in my class?
Answer
Showing films and television shows in an in-person class is typically considered fair use and does not require a performance license or special approval.
If you teach online, you'll want to examine the TEACH Act. The TEACH Act allows for limited portions of videos and audio to be played or embedded in an online class if the video was legally acquired and is integral to the course content. You can read more about the application of the TEACH Act for online instruction in this recent Library of Congress blog post, TEACHing from a Distance and Copyright Considerations
However, you do need to ensure that the film includes closed captioning. Closed captioning can be helpful for many students, not only hearing-impaired students.
Faculty who wish to play DVDs in class should contact their college ITC to request a DVD player as most classroom computers no longer have disk drives.