Hello Amy,
We make sure the instructor understands that the DVD is a non-region 1
(and sometimes PAL) DVD, and that they / their students will require
specialized equipment to play it. We do have multi-region DVD and
Blu-ray players in our viewing carrels, so users can view them on-site
when we're open. We also have a multi-region DVD player installed in
our on-site Viewing Room's rack system, which can be reserved for
classes of less than 50 students. The instructors who teach various
foreign cinemas (German, Italian, etc.) usually have their own
multi-region players at home and are familiar with the attendant
technological issues.
We don't recommend using DVD drives for playback for these discs because
they can sometimes 'lock' on a region after a certain number of
switches. (Also, DVD drives are becoming less common on new laptops.)
We do not convert regions and would consider that problematic from a
copyright standpoint. It's essentially a matter of convenience, which
is not a good basis for an argument re: DMCA, Fair Use, etc.
Best,
--
Meghann Matwichuk, M.S.
Associate Librarian
Coordinator, Film & Video Collection
Morris Library, University of Delaware
181 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19717
(302) 831-1475
https://library.udel.edu/filmandvideo
On 8/30/2016 2:48 PM, Chadwell, Amy wrote:
Hi All,
How do you handle situations when a professor wants a foreign language film
that is only available in a non-US region format?
Do you purchase the item and warn the professor of how the item will likely not
play on standard players, but that it would be possible to play on a computer
after switching regions?
Would it be illegal to make one copy of the film that is region-free or region
1 for ease of student use and destroy or lock away the original? If you have
done this, how did you do it?
You can reply off list if you like to achad...@highpoint.edu
Thank you for any insight you may have.
Amy Chadwell
[cid:11C81220-3EA6-496F-818C-15A5B3561BCA]
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
distributors.
