Can teachers use Netflix (or Hulu/Amazon/etc) videos in classes?

Answer

It depends.

The library does not subscribe to Netflix, nor does Netflix allow for institutional accounts that can be shared among faculty/students. Netflix (and most other commercial streaming services) only allow individual or household subscriptions that are not allowed to be shared. Netflix also does not currently sell DVDs of their original content.

Does this prevent you, as an instructor, from logging into your personal account to show Netflix videos in the classroom or during a remote class?

Yes with a small exception

In order to show a film in a public setting, producers and distributors require institutions to purchase a public performance rights (PPR) license. According to US copyright law (17 U.S. Code § 110),  the Federal Copyright Act does not require PPR for face-to-face classroom or teaching activities. This is why you are generally allowed to show films in class. This includes restricted-access synchronous online classes.

On the surface, it may seem as though Netflix would be a viable option for classroom use. However, Netflix works differently due to the terms of their user agreement. This agreement states:

"4.2 The Netflix service and any content viewed through our service are for your personal and non-commercial use only and may not be shared with individuals beyond your household ... You agree not to use the service for public performances" (see Netflix's Terms of Use).

 

Any third-party agreements, such as Netflix's, supersede US copyright law exemptions, such as those for classroom or teaching activities cited above. Therefore, we generally do not endorse use of Netflix in classes due to the potential for copyright violations.

Now the small exception...

Netflix is unique in that they do allow "one-time" educational screenings (which includes once per semester for educators) of some 75+ "Netflix Original" documentaries. See the links below for Netflix educational policies and to find and use the documentaries that are available for use in the classroom. The only catch is that you must have your own personal Netflix subscription to log into to play these documentaries.

NOTE: Use of these videos for educational purposes must be done in real-time synchronous classes. Recording for asynchronous viewing outside the Netflix platform is forbidden.  Posting a link to a Netflix video would require each student to have their own Netflix account.
 
Sadly, other streaming services such as Hulu and Amazon Prime do not currently provide exemptions for educational screenings of their proprietary materials. Also, showing a Netflix (or other vendor's) streaming content via Zoom or Teams may have problems because those apps sometimes treat your streaming content as a copyright infringement and block your students from viewing it. Testing ahead of time is always a good idea.
 
What are the options for instructors wanting to show films in the classdroom either in person or onine?
 
The library does subscribe to several streaming video services that allow us to license films and videos for showing in our classrooms or online. They require students to either be on campus or to use their PUC credentials to log in to view a video. Here is the library page of streaming video services. The content ranges from educationals to feature films.
 
If you have a specific title that you can't find, the library will help search for a streaming option or purchase a DVD copy. 

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  • Last Updated Feb 20, 2026
  • Views 2872
  • Answered By Patrick Benner

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