Licesence needed to show movie

[SOMBRERO_SUE]

What is the name of your state? PA
I am a little confused here I was under the impression that to show a movie at say a school, church, scout gathering or under the stars in the park etc you had to purchase a licensence or somehow pay royalty fees. I am hearing all kinds of different info. People are telling me you only have to do that if you are charging admission to the movie, others are telling me it is no different than showing it at home with a bunch of your kids friends over. Can anyone set me straight? I dont' want to plan an event only to find out I am doing something wrong.
Thanks in advance
SusanWhat is the name of your state?

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

The FBI warning at the beginning of the film should suffice as your answer. Just because everyone does it ...

ETA: Decent plain language site explains .... http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/INTELLECTUALPROPERTY/mono3.htm

 

[SOMBRERO_SUE]

My thoughts exactly

That is exactly what I kept saying ....and those actors etc earn their living from their work and need to be compensated. Any idea where I go to for permission and to pay the fees?
Thanks
Susan

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

From my experience, the license for a film is fairly expensive. What do you intend to do with the performance?

 

[SOMBRERO_SUE]

It was proposed that we hold a family movie night. Invite the children and their families, everyone bring some snacks and drinks and one of the adults shows a DVD from their laptop onto a whitescreen. Some suggested we collect "donations" at the door, others want to sell chances for a gift basket to avoid becing accoused of "charging " to get in.
It was proposed at my son's school, his scout troop and a local church by the Sunday school class....and the local park board runs "movies in the park" once a month over the summer where they show movies in the ball field under the stars, no fee, no donations just fun in the park under the stars...
I understand their philosophy yet the thespian in me feels it is so wrong....I voted against it unless we obtain the proper license.

 

[quincy]

Ozark_Sophist is right about needing permission from the copyright owner prior to showing a film to the public, and Ozark was right about the expense.

The Copyright Act says that "Neither the rental nor the purchase of a videocassette (DVD) carries with it the right to show the tape outside the home." Public licenses are needed for public showings.

While it is generally okay to rent a video and show it to a few friends in your home, it is not okay to show this same video in a public place or to a large gathering in your home. The videos, DVDs, are not licensed for exhibition but for home, or family, viewing only. This is regardless of whether it is for a commercial or non-profit purpose, and this is regardless of whether there is a charge to see the film or not.

It is fairly easy to obtain a license, however. You usually just need to make a phone call. Fees are determined by what film you will be showing and how large the audience will be. Even if you are not charging to show the film, a license is still needed.

There are several places to obtain licenses - Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. (800) 876-3344 or www.swank.com covers most films. Others are New Yorker Films, Criterion Pictures and Universal Studios. It costs between $300 and $600 for a public viewing license, and between $300 and $600 for a public performance fee. In comparison to these fees, however, are the costs of infringement for not obtaining a license - willful infringement can cost you up to $150,000 and inadvertent infringement can cost you up to $20,000.

By the way, there are some circumstances when licenses are not needed - for instance, it is not necessary to obtain a license to show a movie in a classroom with a teacher present if the movie is part of the school curriculum. Showing a film in the classroom as entertainment, however, is not okay without a license.

Edit to add: An idea to avoid infringement AND the costs involved in obtaining a license - you could show a pre-1923 classic movie, as movies made prior to 1923 are in the public domain and free to use. Perhaps Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin? (you'd have to avoid the Ted Turner re-makes, however)

 

[SOMBRERO_SUE]

Exactly the info I was looking for. Thank you for your help.

 

[quincy]

You're welcome.