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Copyright Guide

This guide is intended to give best practices for the acceptable use of copyright protected materials. It does not provide legal advice.

Campus Events & Promotional Materials

Showing Films on Campus

SMU student associations often host events that feature films. These guidelines will help you understand the requirements for legally showing a film on campus.

Important: Depending on the source of the film (streaming service, DVD, etc.), you may be required to pay additional licensing fees.

General Rules for All Film Events

  • Only current SMU Students, Faculty, and Staff are allowed to attend.
  • The event must be free of charge. No tickets can be sold.

Film Options

Audio Cine Films (ACF)
  • ACF is the preferred streaming service for student groups as the license the library has includes use for on campus events.
  • Outdoor Screenings: If you plan to show an ACF film outside, your Society or Campus group must pay an additional licensing fee directly to ACF.
Criterion on Demand
  • The Society or Campus group will be responsible for paying an additional licensing fee. 
  • The Copyright Office can put the group in touch with our contact at Criterion on Demand
Showing a film via a DVD/Blu-ray, or any other Library streaming service
  • An educational component must be integrated into the event (e.g., a discussion, Q&A, or presentation related to the film's subject).

Please contact the Copyright Office at copyright@smu.ca for further assistance. In your email please indicate what film you would like to display, and for what purposes.

Images for Promotional Materials

If you are creating a flyer to post on campus, or creating a social media post, you need to be aware of copyright for the images you are using. Images are protected by copyright. Many websites and organizations license the images they use, and do not own the copyright themselves. 

Best practices for using this kind of content includes:

  • Choose images that are in the public domain or licensed for re-use (such as Creative Commons images).
  • Take your own pictures 
  • Do not use content that you believe is infringing or has been posted without the knowledge of the copyright owner.
  • Always provide citations giving title, creator, and source. 

Please contact Copyright@smu.ca if you have any questions or would like more guidance on working with these materials.

Resources for finding images: