Campus to restart streaming of instructional video content
By Phil Hampton March 03, 2010
UCLA is taking steps to restore the streaming of previously purchased instructional content behind password-protected course websites, a practice the campus believes is permitted under various provisions in the federal Copyright Act.
Campus officials temporarily suspended the practice in January as a good-faith gesture while UCLA attempted to resolve a copyright claim with a trade association. After carefully reviewing options and implications, UCLA has notified the Association for Information Media and Equipment (AIME) that it intends to restore the service.
"Course instruction long ago ceased to be bound by the walls of the classroom, and we are obligated to provide students with appropriate instructional content in whatever medium helps to foster an effective learning environment," said Jim Davis, UCLA vice provost for information technology and chief academic technology officer. "We're well aware the outcome of this dispute could affect other educational institutions, and it's important that UCLA take a leadership role and demonstrate just how critical the appropriate use of technology is to our educational mission."
Campus officials say the instructional uses in which UCLA engages are permitted under the fair-use limitation on the exclusive rights of a copyright owner. For example, UCLA's practices are consistent with landmark court rulings that allowed video recording of television programs for viewing at a later date (so-called "time-shifting") and the transfer of musical content from one device to another ("space-shifting").
The safe harbor of the TEACH Act, which permits transmissions of content for educational purposes, and the face-to-face exemption of the Copyright Act also support UCLA's uses.
Campus officials estimate that streamed content will return to course websites during the 2010 spring quarter. Faculty are first being asked to specify the educational purpose of making videos available as part of their instruction.
"While we believe our previous protocols were consistent with applicable laws, this modification provides an extra layer of assurance and transparency so that we can resume streaming videos as soon as possible rather than prolonging the impact