Q. Can I show a film over Zoom or other online meeting software for my class?

Well...it depends! Like all things with copyright, whether or not it is a violation depends on how you use/show the film. The typical classroom exemption does not apply in this situation. 

Things to consider are:

• Does your use fall under fair use or the TEACH Act? This is recommended. 
• Are you planning to record your Zoom session? If so, recording might be making a full copy of the show or film you intend to show, which is not recommended. 
• Is the session live/synchronous? Similar to a face-to-face showing? This is recommended. 
• Will the showing be limited to only your students enrolled in the class? This is recommended. 
• In order to show the content, are you circumventing digital locks in violation of the DMCA? The DMCA is law. Also, many streaming platforms will not function if you try to share your screen without circumvention. You may end up having to advise your students to personally rent the work from the streaming platform or create subscription accounts. While some platforms offer free trials, this may not be an option for every student because they may have used up their trial already or may not have a credit card to create an account. See next. 
• Are you violating a license agreement in order to share your content? The majority of popular streaming platforms offer personal licensing, not institutional. Instead of using a streaming platform where you have agreed to licensing terms, you might try showing the DVD version instead and sharing your screen from that version. Please see the links for more information on this issue. 

Depending on how you answer these questions, you might need to make adjustments to how you share content to your class over the online meeting software.