A film from a media library, a series from a streaming subscription or a lecture from a video service: many students want to keep such content for themselves, for exam preparation or for offline use on the go. Whether that is allowed depends mainly on two provisions. Section 53 of the German Copyright Act (UrhG) covers private copies, and section 95a covers the circumvention of technical protection measures. Only the two together give a reliable answer.
Short answer: A copy for private use is generally permitted under section 53 (1) UrhG if a natural person makes it without commercial purpose and no obviously unlawfully produced source is used. Anyone who circumvents effective copy protection for this purpose is on uncertain ground under section 95a (1) UrhG. The private copy rule covers making copies, not passing them on (Last updated: November 2026).
The most important points at a glance
- A private copy requires that a natural person makes it for their own private use.
- The copy must not pursue commercial purposes and must not come from an obviously unlawfully produced source.
- Circumventing effective copy protection without the rights holder’s consent is not permitted under section 95a UrhG.
- Section 53 UrhG allows copying for yourself, not passing copies on or showing them publicly.
- In addition to the law, the terms of use of the provider also apply.
What does section 53 UrhG actually allow?
The provision permits individual reproductions of a work by a natural person for private use, on any medium. What matters is that the copy is meant for you and does not become part of a business. Reproductions may not serve commercial purposes, either directly or indirectly. A recording you save on your own laptop for a term paper falls within this frame. A recording you sell in a study group does not.
The reference to the source is important. A copy is not permitted if an obviously unlawfully produced or publicly made available source is used for reproduction. If you knowingly take content that is clearly distributed illegally, you cannot rely on the private copy rule. Where the provider makes content available lawfully, the source question usually does not arise. The technical side is a separate hurdle, as the next section explains.
When does copy protection apply, and why is it a separate problem?
Section 95a (1) UrhG prohibits circumventing effective technical measures that protect a work, without the consent of the rights holder. This applies where the person acting knows, or must reasonably know, that the circumvention is done to enable access to the work or its use. Permission to make a private copy does not automatically lift this prohibition. A tool that defeats copy protection is therefore a problem, even if you only want to use the file yourself.
Subsection 3 goes further and prohibits making, distributing and advertising means of circumvention. Anyone who downloads or passes on software for removing protection mechanisms leaves the area in which section 53 offers protection. Whether a particular recording constitutes circumvention depends on the technical implementation and cannot be answered in general terms.
The typical situations at a glance
The table below classifies common cases. It does not replace an assessment of your own situation, but it shows what matters.
| Situation | Assessment | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Recording a freely accessible video for your own use, without protection measures | May be permitted under section 53 (1) UrhG | Does the source come from a clearly unlawful offer? |
| Recording from a subscription service using screen capture | Permissibility depends on the technical implementation | Is a protection measure circumvented in the process? |
| Defeating copy protection with additional software | May infringe section 95a (1) UrhG | Is an effective protection measure being bypassed? |
| Passing the file on to friends or to groups | Not covered by section 53, which regulates reproduction | Is the file distributed or made publicly available? |
Why passing copies on is a separate question
Section 53 describes when you may copy something. Whoever hands the copy to others distributes it. This act is treated separately in copyright law and can trigger warning letters. For how such cases look and what to do, see Filesharing warning letter: what students should do now.
Frequently asked questions
Is recording lectures allowed?
Whether a recording of a course is permitted does not depend on section 53 UrhG alone. The personality rights of lecturers and fellow students matter, as do the rules of your university. When in doubt, ask before recording, because explicit permission creates clarity for everyone involved.
May I quote a film in my term paper?
The quotation right under section 51 UrhG applies in principle to published works, which includes films and videos, provided the use is justified by the purpose. A short excerpt for analysis is something different from attaching a complete video. The basics of quoting text are explained in Quoting made easy: the most important rules at a glance (in German).
Do media libraries have their own rules?
Media libraries and streaming services often have their own terms of use. These frequently govern whether and how you may store content, and they apply in addition to copyright law. Read them before you save anything. The provider itself gives reliable information for a specific service.
May I make copies for my flatmates or family?
As soon as you pass a copy on to others, you leave the area of private use that section 53 refers to. This also applies within a shared flat or a family. A copy for yourself may be permitted if the other requirements are met.
What to do now
- Check whether the content is lawfully accessible and which terms of use the provider states.
- Avoid tools that circumvent copy protection, even if they are easy to find.
- Store content only for your own use and do not pass it on.
- Ask when you are unsure, especially for teaching material that lecturers upload.
- For learning, prefer offers that expressly allow offline storage.
Common mistakes with recordings
Most problems with recordings do not come from the big question but from small details. Sending a downloaded file on to others leaves the area of private use. Uploading it to a publicly accessible network counts as distribution. Installing a tool that defeats protection falls under a different legal frame than simply saving a copy. Keeping these steps apart helps you judge your own use honestly before you share or archive anything. For learning material, it is also worth looking for official download offers, which are often clearer than random sources found online.
Related reading
- Digital rights in everyday life: the overview for students
- Sharing lecture notes and slides: what copyright allows in study
- Filesharing warning letter: what students should do now
- Music in social media videos: what copyright allows
- Images from textbooks in a presentation: what is allowed
Sources: Section 53 UrhG, reproductions for private and other own use (gesetze-im-internet.de, German); Section 95a UrhG, technical protection measures (gesetze-im-internet.de, German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
