Netflix Policies / Access Titles
Thanks to Molloy College, here is some information regarding the use of Netflix films. FAQ Netflix Streaming Database.
Educational Screening of Documentaries
Some Netflix Original educational documentaries are available for one-time educational screenings.
To find out which titles are available for educational screenings, visit media.netflix.com and search for the title. Below, there is an incomplete list of documentaries that are covered by this educational screenings permission.
GRANT OF PERMISSION FOR EDUCATIONAL SCREENINGS - taken from Netflix's website
Netflix is proud to present original documentaries that speak to our users in a meaningful way. We know that many of you are as excited about these titles as we are; and because of their informational aspects, you’d like to show them in an educational setting -- e.g., in the classroom, at the next meeting of your community group, with your book club, etc.
Consequently, we will permit one-time educational screenings - "one-time screening" means that you can't hold screenings several times in one day or one week, but if, for example, you're an educator who wants to show the titles once a semester over multiple semesters, that's okay.
Educational screenings are permitted for any of the documentaries noted with this information, on the following terms:
Streaming Media
It's on Netflix, can I show it to my class?
Short answer: NO
Except: Netflix Original documentaries with a GRANT OF PERMISSION FOR EDUCATIONAL SCREENINGS - keep scrolling for that list. This is not available for all Netflix Originals and/or Documentaries.
Long answer: The Netflix End User License Agreement or Terms of Use, which you agreed to when you created an account, specifies that the account is "only for your personal, non-commercial use." Netflix is not alone here; Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other personal streaming vendors do not grant rights for institutional or educational use.
This is important because licenses overrule copyright exemptions. Showing your personal DVD during class is covered by a specific copyright exemption (Section 110), and showing clips can be covered by fair use (Section 107). However, streaming videos from personal subscription vendors in your classroom when the license prohibits such viewings? There is no copyright exemption for that and the situation is problematic.
Netflix Original Documentaries with Educational Screening Permission (ESP)
As of 5/1/2024 the following titles are available for a one-time educational screening. You must have a personal Netflix account in order to show these titles in the classroom during a face-to-face traditional setting. Always double-check the details page for each title, before showing, to ensure that the Grant of Permission is still applicable. Films added after 2021 now have a link that says "Before screening this title, read the Educational Screening Permission (ESP)."
There is no easy way to search Netflix for a list of documentaries so unless you have a specific Netflix-owned title that you want to search, it can be difficult to browse media.netflix.com. That is why the list below is checked at least once a year. You might also find the supplied Google search to be helpful.
Have any questions?
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