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Copyright & Fair Use

What Is The Teaching Exemption?

Instructors or students may perform or display copyrighted works in face-to-face teaching activities in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction at non-profit educational institutions like UNC. This exemption only applies to materials that are performed or displayed, not materials that are copied or distributed to students. Further, this exemption does not apply to materials performed or displayed on Blackboard.

For example, if you would like to play a popular song, display a slide of a Picasso painting or show the film Apocalypse Now as part of a face-to-face teaching activities for a class at UNC, these activities would be allowed by copyright law.

You must use an authorized copy of the work for this safe harbor to protect your use.

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