Can I tape the episodes off-air and use them in my classroom?

No. Changes to the Copyright Act that came into effect January 1, 1999 permit educational institutions to tape and use news and news commentary (excluding documentaries) for up to a year after broadcast. All other programs (including documentaries) may be kept for 30 days after the broadcast, but may not be used in a classroom unless a royalty is paid. The royalty rate, or tariff, has not yet been approved by Canada's Copyright Board.

Canada: A People's History is clearly a documentary series. It cannot, therefore, be taped off-air and used for instructional purposes.

Only videos obtained from CBC Learning and licensed with public performance rights, or obtained through a Digital Rights or Duplication Rights agreement with CBC Learning are legally licensed for educational exhibition.

For more information about the new educational exceptions in the Copyright Act, please contact CBC Learning.

Box 500,
Station A,
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada M5W 1E6

Tel: (416) 205-6384
Fax: (416) 205-2376