Skip to Main Content

Streaming Video @ The University of Alabama

Public Screening FAQs

Can I stream Swank films to a group on campus?

Please note that films from Swank do not have Public Performance Rights and cannot be shown in public viewings. Swank films can only be shown in a face-to-face classroom setting as a part of a regular curriculum. Otherwise, if the film you would like to show is part of Swank, please contact the University Libraries for alternative options.

Can I stream Kanopy films to a group on campus?

Most films on Kanopy are available for non-classroom group settings (like student organization events) as long as the viewing is by UA students, faculty, and staff only and not for commercial benefit (i.e. no admission costs are charged and no profit is made from the screening). Whether a film is available with Public Performance Rights (PPR) is easy to discover on the Kanopy platform:


To find a PPR-enabled film in Kanopy:

  1. Perform a search in Kanopy
  2. In the search results, filter by "Public Performance Rights"
  3. Choose "PPR Available" 
  4. Go to the video page for the film
  5. Look for the PPR Icon in the description to see if the film has public performance rights

Can't I just show a film from my own Netflix (or another personal streaming service) account to my class?

No. Netflix is an individual subscription service designed for personal, private viewing only.  It is a violation of the Netflix terms of service as well as copyright law to show a Netflix film in any environment outside of one's own home and for a public audience. This also applies to other personal streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, etc. 

1. Can I show a film for an event  being hosted on campus?

In order to show a film for a campus event, you must secure Public Performance Rights for the film. Not all films available through the University Libraries automatically provide Public Performance Rights. It order to make sure you are not in violation of copyright law, please make sure that you have secured a film with Public Performance Rights before showing at an event on campus.

2. Can I show a film in a class?

Yes. All films available through University Libraries can be shown in the classroom as a part of a regular course to registered students for curricular and educational purposes. Films can also be linked for individual viewing in Blackboard.

3. I am showing a film with Public Performance Rights at my event. Can I charge admission?

No. You may not charge admission to an event wherein you are showing a film from the library's collection regardless of whether you have secured PPR.