Lights, Camera, Wait… Is That Legal?

Watch this on-demand webinar to gain a clear, practical understanding of how copyright law applies to movie use in K–12 schools. In this session, Swank experts Brian Edwards and Courtney Mach break down the rules in a way that’s easy to follow – focusing on real scenarios educators face every day.

From classroom instruction to schoolwide activities, movie use is common – but knowing when it’s allowed without a license (and when it’s not) can be confusing. This webinar simplifies the complexity by walking through the key principles of the Copyright Act and showing exactly how they apply in an educational setting. Rather than diving into legal jargon, the focus is on real-world application – so you can confidently evaluate how movies are being used in your school.

Through interactive examples and scenario-based discussions, you’ll see how small differences in how a movie is used – such as a lesson vs. a reward, or classroom use vs. an after-school activity – can change whether licensing is required. The session also introduces the face-to-face teaching exemption, clarifying the five specific criteria that must be met for educational use without licensing.

By the end, you’ll have a simple framework you can use to guide decision-making, support your colleagues, and reduce uncertainty across your school or district.

What You’ll Learn

• How copyright law applies to K–12 schools : Understand the basics of the Copyright Act and why movie use at school is considered a public performance
• The face-to-face teaching exemption – explained clearly : Learn the 5 criteria that must be met to use movies without a license in the classroom
• Common misconceptions (and where schools get it wrong) : Clarify confusion around fair use, classroom viewing, and “educational” movies
• Real-world scenarios and how to evaluate them : See examples like celebrations, PBIS rewards, assemblies, and after-school clubs – and whether they require licensing
• How to determine if your use is compliant : Walk through a simple “TEACH test” framework to evaluate movie use in your school
• How to simplify compliance across your school or district : Learn how site licensing works and how it removes uncertainty around when a license is needed