The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act (“TEACH Act”), 17 USC Sec. 110(2) permits the performance or display of certain copyrighted works in online / remote instruction.   Its primary purpose is to balance the needs of distance learners and educators with the rights of copyright holders.  In other words, TEACH Act attempts to align the benefits of robust and creative teaching with the rights of a copyright holder, acknowledging the ease with which copyrighted works can be infringed in an online setting.  The TEACH Act attempts to balance the  benefits of robust and creative teaching with the rights of a copyright holder, acknowledging the ease with which copyrighted works can be infringed in an online setting.


The following examples show how the TEACH Act may, or may not, apply to various remote instruction activities.


TEACH Act May Apply*

  • Streaming reasonable and limited portions of a movie or TV show during a remote class session

  • Streaming a full-length nondramatic musical work during a remote class session

  • Quoting lengthy excerpts from a nondramatic literary work during a remote class session

  • Displaying images during a remote class session in an amount comparable to a typical live classroom session 


*Other conditions of the TEACH Act must be satisfied


TEACH Act Does Not Apply**

  • Reproducing and uploading a full-length movie or TV show for students to view outside of class

  • Recording and sharing a student performance of a full-length dramatic musical work

  • Distributing book chapters, journal articles, or other readings to students digitally

  • Reproducing and distributing large collections of images 


**Other legal exemptions, including fair use, may apply


Copyright & the TEACH Act 


The TEACH ACT's enhancements over Copyright provisions prior to 2002 include the following:

  • Instructors are now permitted to use a wider range of work in distance learning environments

  • Students may participate in distance learning sessions from virtually any location

  • Participants enjoy greater latitude when it comes to storing, copying, and digitizing materials


For more information about what is / is not permitted under the TEACH Act, see Copyright Basics- The TEACH Act: New roles, rules, and responsibilities for academic institutions from the Copyright Clearance Center.


The MMA Library's copyright information is available here .