Carolina's DVD Policy

Have you ever wondered if you are allowed to show one of our DVDs or videos in your classroom? The issue is whether such a presentation violates copyright laws.

Showing a DVD/video purchased from Carolina Biological Supply Company is allowed, provided the showing is part of the face-to-face teaching activities of your nonprofit educational institution and it takes place in a classroom or similar location devoted to instruction. Either the teacher or a student can be in charge of showing the DVD/video. This rule is a special one, contained in the United States copyright laws (17 USC §110), which applies to all nonprofit educational institutions. It thus covers virtually all public and private schools.

You will not be covered by this exemption in the following circumstances:

1. Showing the DVD/video is not a part of the activities of a nonprofit educational organization.
2. Showing the DVD/video is not a part of your face-to-face teaching activities.
3. You are not showing the DVD/video in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction.
4. The DVD/video is being shown by someone who is neither a teacher nor a student.
5. You are showing a DVD/video copy that was not lawfully made. (All Carolina DVDs/videos are lawfully made; however, if you have made a copy of one of these products, this is unlawful and you may not use that copy.)

For example, showing a DVD/video for the amusement of an afterschool club or as non-educational “filler” for a slow day in the classroom is not a face-to-face teaching activity. Therefore, it would not be exempt and would not be allowed. Since Carolina sells only educational DVDs/videos, it is unlikely that any of these products would be used purely for entertainment. On the other hand, if an afterschool club were engaged in an instructional activity at the school and a teacher or a student showed a DVD/video during that activity, such use would be acceptable.

Unlike some companies, we do not mark up the price of our DVD/video products to include a fee for performance rights.

If you still have a question about showing a Carolina DVD/video, please contact Felicia Cherry (800.227.1150, ext. 4306; felicia.cherry@carolina.com).