Course Reserves

Instructors may request any streamed video that the Library already owns  (See: Streaming Videos: Collections and Guidelines)

The Library will purchase new streaming video required for courses within reasonable limits.  To expedite those requests, follow the steps below:

• Please let us know your video streaming needs well in advance of start of semester, whenever possible.
• If requesting more than one video, please be sure to clearly prioritize your title requests as it may not be possible to buy all requested titles and necessary rights. 
• Please let us know your intended timeline. This is especially important if you are requesting more than one streaming video title. Course Reserves staff will need to know in advance which critical titles are needed for your class first.
• Plan to use the same title another semester? Let us know that in advance. Digital streaming rights are typically based on specific timeframes - one semester, one year, 3 years, etc. If available and practical, we will seek "In Perpetuity" streaming rights whenever possible.

This policy developed in consultation with ISU University Legal Services.

The Library attempts to adhere to all federal copyright laws. The following policies are meant to aid all parties in conforming to fair use provisions of the copyright law.

The creation and transmission of digital audio file copies of copyrighted recordings for course reserve purposes will adhere to the following conditions:

1. All initial and subsequent use of audio materials for electronic transmission will be pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Act including its Fair Use analysis and/or its TEACH Act provisions.
2. Course Reserves will make digital copies only for works that are being taught in the course and are to be used for the non-commercial, educational purpose to benefit students enrolled in the course.
3. Digital copies must be for and technologically limited to individuals who have been authenticated to access these files.
4. In compliance with copyright, Course Reserves may provide electronic transmissions of the following audio materials:
   • Performances (partial or entire) of all non-dramatic literary or musical works. Such works would include the display or performances of poetry or short-story reading; all music other than opera, music videos, and musicals.
   • Reasonable and limited portions of any dramatic musical works (including opera, music videos, musicals).
   • Materials with appropriate permissions of the copyright holder.
5. In compliance with copyright, Course Reserves will not provide electronic transmission of the following audio materials:
   • Materials specifically produced or marketed for classroom use or for digital distance education (i.e. materials currently available electronically).
   • A performance or display that is given by means of a copy not lawfully made or acquired or that Course Reserves knows or has reason to believe was not lawfully made or acquired.
   • Materials typically purchased by the students for use outside the classroom or class session. (i.e. Audio recordings that the students are normally required to purchase. Examples may include: recorded anthologies or recordings purchased in conjunction with required textbooks).
   • Materials without appropriate permissions if the nature, scope, or extent of copying is judged by Course Reserves to exceed the reasonable limits of "fair use" under copyright.
6. Either the institution or the course instructor should own an original copy of the work. The Library will attempt to purchase a copy of the item whenever possible. If a digital version is not available, Course Reserves will accept a copy made from an analog original. When doing so, the copy will include only the amount requested for transmission.
7. The Library will remove access to the files at the completion of the course.
8. The Library may store course files for future re-use.
9. Course Reserves will provide a "Copyright Notice" on appropriate screens of the Course Reserves system to indicate to all users that the electronic materials available for the course are subject to U.S. Copyright law and copying or downloading of the electronic file is prohibited.

Here's a quick list of major distributors with whom we have worked. Each one handles streaming rights differently. See "Types" defined in left column. Don't see your distributor here? We've worked with a number of other distributors, including some very small companies. Ask us!

A number of well-known video distributors have not yet published clear cut streaming rights information on their websites or ordering information. They may provide some streaming titles but do not seem yet to be widely publicizing that format and relevant acquisition / pricing information on their websites. Below are a few distributors that currently seem to fit this model. For that reason, acquiring streaming rights from these distributors may be time-consuming.