Why Can't I Watch This Video Here - Copyright Confusion and Performances of Videocassettes & (and) Videodiscs in Libraries

Authors

J. Wesley Cochran

Abstract

The dramatic growth of video resources in library collections in the past twenty years brought with it disagreement between librarians and copyright owners concerning performances of videocassettes and videodiscs in libraries. This article reviews the application of copyright law to performances of videocassettes and videodiscs and describes typical uses of these resources in academic, public, and private libraries. The author then relates the availability of statutory defenses to claims of infringement and concludes that many performances of videocassettes and videodiscs in libraries are permitted by the fair use limitation and the educational exemption found in the Copyright Act of 1976. The author also makes several proposals for clarifying the law as it relates to performances of video resources in libraries.

Recommended Citation

J. Wesley Cochran, Why Can't I Watch This Video Here - Copyright Confusion and Performances of Videocassettes & (and) Videodiscs in Libraries, 15 UC Law SF Comm. & Ent. L.J. 837 (1993).
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_comm_ent_law_journal/vol15/iss4/1