What The Law Says About Copyright
The Federal Copyright Act (Title 17 of the U.S. Code) governs how
copyrighted materials, such as movies, may be used. Neither
the rental nor the purchase of a movie carries with it the
right to show the movie publicly outside the home, unless the
site where the movie is used is properly licensed for public
exhibition.
Ownership of the movie and the right to use it publicly are
two separate issues. The copyright holder retains exclusive public
performance rights.
This
legal copyright compliance requirement applies to schools,
public libraries, daycare facilities, parks, recreation departments,
summer camps, churches, private clubs, prisons, lodges, businesses,
etc.
This legal requirement applies:
- Regardless of whether an admission fee is charged
- Whether the institution or organization is commercial or
non-profit
- Whether a federal, state or local agency is involved
The concept of "Public Performance" is central to copyright
and the issue of protection for "intellectual property."
If an author, computer programmer, musician or movie producer
does not retain ownership of his or her "work," there
would be little incentive for them to continue and little chance
of recouping the enormous investment in time, research and development,
much less profits for future endeavors.
The Motion Picture Association of America and its member companies
are dedicated to stopping film and video piracy in all its
forms, including unauthorized public performances, illegal
downloading, etc. The motion picture companies can go to court
to ensure their copyrights are not violated.
To avoid embarrassing publicity and fines, it is important
to comply with U.S. Copyright Law when using movies publicly.
If you are uncertain about your responsibilities under copyright
law, consult your legal copyright compliance advisor or attorney.
Copyright Resources
by Rosemary Talab, 2nd edition. (McFarland & Co. Publishing,
c1999).
By Gary H. Becker, 3rd edition. (c2003). For further information:
Toll-Free Phone: 888-333-2037, Email:gbecker@earthlink.net
The MPAA is an anti-piracy organization that is dedicated to
assisting local governments and law enforcement authorities in
the investigation and prosecution of piracy cases.
