Staff asking us to rip DVD's to network so multiple classrooms can show film.

[Kyle]

Recently we have had a new Head of English who keeps asking us to rip DVD's and add them to the network so multiple members of the department can play them at the same time. I am pretty sure this is illegal but the HOD is not prepared to buy 7 copies of each DVD.

 

I was wondering if any one could help.

[maark]

Tell him no - you are breaking copyright and opening the school up to a possibility of a big fine.

[tmcd35]

You're right - it's illigal. If the HoD won't accept that then maybe a quiet word with your Head is in order?

[X-13]

I am pretty sure this is illegal

 

It is.

[CyberNerd]

It isn't always illegal, there are lots of DVD out of copyright or DVD's that don't have any immediate copyright issues such as those designed to be distributed in schools.

You've got to check the actual DVD and be sure it is legal to redistribute copies before you do so.

[X-13]

there are lots of DVD out of copyright

 

 

• Copyright in a film expires 70 years after the end of the year in which the death occurs of the last to survive of the principal director, the authors of the screenplay and dialogue, and the composer of any music specially created for the film.

 

Intellectual Property Office - How long does copyright last?

 

DVDs were invented in 1995. There are NO DVDs where the copyright has expired. Films where the copyright should have expired will have been bought by another company and then extended... because reasons.

[tmcd35]

DVDs were invented in 1995. There are NO DVDs where the copyright has expired. Films where the copyright should have expired will have been bought by another company and then extended... because reasons.

 

Not sure that is what @CyberNerd was getting at.

 

The terms of the copyright are upto the copyright holder. Especially in school produced material, the copyright might be more favourable or waived all together. He is right, it's worth double checking first before hand.

[CyberNerd]

DVDs were invented in 1995. There are NO DVDs where the copyright has expired. Films where the copyright should have expired will have been bought by another company and then extended... because reasons.

 

It's not quite that clear cut, because IF the DVD was recorded from terrestrial TV, it was correctly labelled at the time and you have an ERA+ license then it is perfectly legal to copy it for educational use.

There are also cases I've come across where there is NO copyright on the DVD.

 

It's better to weigh up each case individually.

[X-13]

It's not quite that clear cut, because IF the DVD was recorded from terrestrial TV, it was correctly labelled at the time and you have an ERA+ license then it is perfectly legal to copy it for educational use.

There are also cases I've come across where there is NO copyright on the DVD.

 

It's better to weigh up each case individually.

 

I was going to mention that, then got distracted.

 

Yes, there are DVDs with little [or NO] copyright, and homemade stuff should, to a certain extent, be fine. [No, recording Game of Thrones at home doesn't mean you can watch it at work]

 

It's like torrents. Not all torrents infringe copyright, but it's still worth checking it's legit.

[plexer]

 

Intellectual Property Office - How long does copyright last?

 

DVDs were invented in 1995. There are NO DVDs where the copyright has expired. Films where the copyright should have expired will have been bought by another company and then extended... because reasons.

 

Copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work lasts for the life of the author and 70 years from the end of the year in which he/she died.

 

Copyright in a film expires 70 years after the end of the year in which the death occurs of the last to survive of the principal director, the authors of the screenplay and dialogue, and the composer of any music specially created for the film.

 

I can't see that the format the film is on bears any relation to this?

 

Ben

[localzuk]

Copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work lasts for the life of the author and 70 years from the end of the year in which he/she died.

 

Copyright in a film expires 70 years after the end of the year in which the death occurs of the last to survive of the principal director, the authors of the screenplay and dialogue, and the composer of any music specially created for the film.

 

I can't see that the format the film is on bears any relation to this?

 

Ben

 

Something to consider - DVDs also have custom menus, titles etc... applied to them. So potentially, they would be classified as a derivative and therefore a new work under copyright. Same with remastering of sound/video etc... for use with modern sound and HD TVs.

[tmcd35]

 

I can't see that the format the film is on bears any relation to this?

 

Ben

 

There are also "publication rights" which extend copyright to the publisher for 25years from first publication.

[ninjashadow]

Tell the HOD that the school stands to be fined and or Jail time if they are caught doing this. If he is insistant then get it in writing and keep that handy

[JJonas]

Tell the HOD that the school stands to be fined and or Jail time if they are caught doing this. If he is insistant then get it in writing and keep that handy

 

He is still asking you to break the law so just refuse.

 

You can not be disciplined for refusing to take part in something you know to be illegal.

[ninjashadow]

so very true, it also might be worth keeping a set of copy right laws handy

[TechMonkey]

We had this issue with a member of staff attempting to rip about 15 DVDs to their area and then complaining that they didn't have enough space to work effectively and that we were stifling them. What it comes down to is that staff don't want to have to go pick up a DVD from a cupboard or plan to share resources. Their HoD backed them so we were called into a meeting with the Head and once we showed what they were doing, showed the amount of space they wanted to take up for themselves and the copyright and fines we could be facing. The Head laughed heartily and asked the Teacher and HoD of department why they weren't aware of the copyright and sent them away with a flea in their ear.

 

1 week later they copied the rips on to the departmental shared area and filled the server completely stopping everyone else from using the share. That was a bit more of an elephant in their ear that time

[X-13]

That was a bit more of an elephant in their ear that time

 

I would have thought it'd be more of a kick in their rear [and a P45.]

[xenonive]

Copyright & Schools: photocopy, scan, screen or broadcast copyright resources in classrooms - simple advice for teachers

[soveryapt]

Tell the HOD that the school stands to be fined and or Jail time if they are caught doing this. If he is insistant then get it in writing and keep that handy

 

Definitely not this .. as many have mentioned, just say no .. it's a blanket rule for me in schools that I'm in .. if the school hold the correct license for showing DVDs and such outside of curricular activities then the film must be shown from that DVD (or resource) as appropriate. If they want the film "putting on the network so all classes can watch it" they're told no ..

 

Even with something in writing from the HoD, or even the chair of governors, is not a permissive right for you to break the law .. extreme (and I know it's hugely extreme) example: someone comes to you and says "would you mind killing such and such person for me" .. now, you know this is illegal, so obviously you say no. You don't say "well, it's actually illegal to do so, but if you're insistent about it, please can you put it in writing then it'll be ok?"

 

Like I say, extreme example, but it highlights the invalidity of saying "get it in writing" as it's still you that has committed the punishable offense. If they are persistent about you breaking the law, then they need to be dealt with for that.

 

Just my 2p worth having been there myself (it's a regular question at these times of years I've noticed).

 

EDIT:

P.S; when I say I've been there, I don't mean people have approached me as hitman .. I mean, I know it's got IT within the word, but even teachers have their limits .. lol ..

Edited December 2, 2013 by soveryapt

[SteveM555]

Been asked many times for the same thing. Always been a no.

[ninjashadow]

lol now now whats your price for whacking people:bowl:

 

on a serious note we wont copy the movies onto our system unless they have the correct number of physical copies to allow them to do what they want. And as ive learned in the tech support field always get stuff in writing otherwise things can go very sideways on you.

 

And your 2p is valued

[soveryapt]

lol now now whats your price for whacking people:bowl:

 

Depends on the profile of the person .. but shhhh .. don't tell everyone .. lol ..

[tmcd35]

on a serious note we wont copy the movies onto our system unless they have the correct number of physical copies to allow them to do what they want.

 

Alas, currently under UK copyright law media transfer is not permitted - so this to would be illegal. There was talk a couple of years back of the law being updated due to the farce that is ripping MP3's from CD's, but it's all gone a bit quiet.

 

Edit:Ah, just found this - Intellectual Property Bill [HL] 2013-14 — UK Parliament - might finally be legal sometime next year!

Edited December 2, 2013 by tmcd35

[liveman2]

To best honest, although theres a question of legitimacy here, it's also worth remembering that you'd be opening a can of worms here even if you did find a workaround. Before long you'd be doing it for all the departments, and you end up with a mess.

[chazzy2501]

I'm pretty sure "copyright infringement" is NOT illegal as it is a civil matter. (unless you are profiting) Liability lies with the Head teacher not the perpetrator regardless of complicity. I just say no to retail DVDs but for our DVDs created from VHS Terrestrial recording it's fine.