Free Movie for the public

[gkapraun01]

I'm a small video store owner in Illinois. I want to show movies out on the lawn to the public for free. Are there any laws or restrictions that would prohibit me from doing this?

[FlyingRon]

You betcha. 100% illegal unless you secure performance rights.
Swank.com has information on how to do this legally.

[cyjeff]

With all those videos you own and you never read that stuff under the FBI seal?

[AlexInCali]

In fact, I believe there is even a limit to the number of people you can legally have watching a DVD in your living room! I heard it was something like 9? Can someone confirm or deny? I remember reading that somewhere and thinking "how ridiculous!"

[AlexInCali]

Originally Posted by AlexInCali

In fact, I believe there is even a limit to the number of people you can legally have watching a DVD in your living room! I heard it was something like 9? Can someone confirm or deny? I remember reading that somewhere and thinking "how ridiculous!"

I just gotta say, I don't know where the heck I heard that limitation... perhaps it came to me a nightmare one evening.

Title 17, section 101 of the United States code actually defines a public performance thus:

"to perform or display it at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered;"

Now that I think about it... wouldn't that also preclude one from showing the video in the store? Don't all video stores run movies on their monitors?

[Country Living]

Did you even pay attention to the fact this thread is over a month old?????

[AlexInCali]

Originally Posted by Country Living

Did you even pay attention to the fact this thread is over a month old?????

Obviously not. I guess I need to make a better effort to look at the posting dates!

In any case, I thought it was an interesting issue. There is a lot of this type of stuff (showing movies to the public, etc) that goes on where people either don't realize they're breaking the law, or just disregard it. I could tell you some stories, but this isn't the place for that.

Thanks for pointing out the date issue.

There is no need for extra punctuation to get your point across.