When do I need to obtain public performance rights (PPR)?

You may need to obtain PPR if you are planning to show a film at a film festival, educational program, or other campus event. Almost all films are protected by copyright, and § 106(5) of the Copyright Law of the United States grants to copyright owners the exclusive right to perform the copyrighted work publicly. The statutory definition of a public performance is one "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." (§ 101) There is a specific exception that allows viewing films as part of classroom teaching, so PPR are not required if the "performance or display [is] in the course of face-to-face teaching activities of a nonprofit educational institution, in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction" as long as the copy being shown was lawfully made. (§ 110(1))

The following are allowed for any film or television program in the Library's DVD or streaming collections without obtaining PPR:

• individual viewing
• home viewing with family and friends
• viewing in small groups, such as in a group study room
• classroom viewing

PPR are required to show copyrighted works in situations other than those listed above, including:

• film festivals
• meetings, programs, and events on campus
• movie nights sponsored by student or other groups