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Copying Movies and Music in the Media Center

The information on this page is intended to inform the faculty, staff and students at Dominican University about copyright and to provide guidelines for using and reproducing copyrighted audio visual (AV) materials. The information should not be considered legal advice.  It is the intent of the Media Center that all Media Center patrons adhere to the provisions of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code, Sect. 101, et seq.).

Section 108 of the Law applies to reproduction by libraries and archives.  It allows the Media Center to make up to 3 copies of a published work if the work is damaged, deteriorating, lost, stolen or in a format that is obsolete, and if a replacement cannot be obtained at a fair price.  The Media Center can also make up to 3 copies of an unpublished work if the copy is solely for preservation or security and if the work is currently in our collection.  Copies must not be made for any direct or indirect commercial advantage.  Digital copies are not available to the public in that format outside of the library premises.

Copy Request Form (pdf) 

All Dominican faculty, staff and students must complete this form when requesting an AV copy.  It is also available in the Media Center.

Please allow up to one week for completion of AV copies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Media Center make a copy of a movie or sound recording from my personal collection?
We will make a copy if you are using the material for educational purposes and only if you have written permission from the copyright holder .  Columbia University has detailed information on how to seek permission from the copyright holder.  They also offer a downloadable model permissions letter.

Can the Media Center make a copy of a movie or sound recording from the Center's collection for my personal collection?
The Media Center does not copy movies or music for personal collections.

Can the Media Center copy a VHS from the Center's collection onto DVD?
If the VHS is damaged, deteriorating, lost or stolen AND if we cannot purchase the DVD at a fair price, we can make a DVD copy for the Media Center collection. 

Can the Media Center make a copy of a DVD so there are more available for my students?
If we cannot purchase another DVD(s) at a fair price, we can make up to 3 copies for the Media Center collection.
    
Can I show a movie from the Media Center collection in my class?
According to the Dominican University Film Policy, you may show a movie in class IF:

• The movie is an “integral part of a class session”
• The viewing is supervised by a teacher in a classroom.
• The viewing is attended only by students enrolled in a registered class of an accredited nonprofit educational institution.

Public viewing requires a license from the copyright holder.  For information, please contact the Office of Student Involvement at 708-524-6037.

Can the Media Center digitize sound recordings and put them online?
Yes.  The digital files will only be available through computers on the Dominican University campus.

This page was adapted from pages at Wellesley College and Columbia University.