public viewing rented films

[heidiverne]

In New York. I want to rent (or purchase) films to show in my restaurant. I will project image onto a large screen, but not charge customers for viewing the film per se. There will be no cover charge. Am I breaking copyright laws if I show these films publicly? If so, how difficult or expensive is it to buy the rights to most films?
Thank you.

 

[counsel]

I assume that you are not showing the films for political or educational purposes.

Even if you don't charge your customers, you need to license the right to show the films. Otherwise, it would constitute copyright infringement.

You may contact the licensing or legal department of the film studio which made the film, tell them your goal, and then ask for permission.

 

[T-DESIGNER]

I am not an attorney, but you might also try contacting the
The Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC). If they
are unable to provide you with a license, they might be
willing to provide you specific licensing contacts to the
various motion picture studios.

http://www.mplc.com/index2.htm

Their web site says the following:

"The Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC) is an
independent copyright licensing service exclusively authorized by
major Hollywood motion picture studios and independent
producers to grant Umbrella LicensesSM to non-profit groups,
businesses and government organizations for the public
performances of home videocassettes and videodiscs.

Over 60,000 locations, including churches, libraries, schools,
YM/YWCAs, and corporations have obtained MPLC’s Umbrella
License with the assurance that the videos they show are in
compliance with the Federal Copyright Act."

--------------------

If the MLPC is unable/unwilling to help, you might also try
contacting "The Motion Picture Association of America":

http://www.mpaa.org/home.htm

Their web site also provide links to some/all of the major motion
picture studios:

http://www.mpaa.org/relatedsites/

--------------------

If you are willing, please let us know what you find out. You
are not the first to ask this question.

P.S. After making this post, I visited Universal Studios' web
site. Their site makes me wonder if the motion picture studios
are willing to give you permission; i.e., this is what their site
shows concerning licensing:

* Visit site to license a video clip, audio clip, dialogue or
character from a Universal Film or Television Program

* Licensing a Universal character for internet use

* Licensing a Universal character for merchandise

The above was found near the bottom on the following web page:

http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/contact_us/