An Easy Way to Explain Why You Need Licensing.
Sometimes, the need for public performance licensing can be hard to explain to those who do not quite understand copyright laws or are unsure of what constitutes a public performance.
By definition, a public performance (also called a public exhibition) is any showing of a copyrighted movie outside the privacy of a home setting. When motion pictures are shown outside of a home, unless the films are licensed, these showings are actually infringing on motion picture companies' opportunities to generate revenue. This is one of the reasons why public performance licensing is so strict. The good news is that your licensing from Movie Licensing USA satisfies copyright laws because royalties are paid to the companies whose films can be shown.
Neither the rental nor the purchase of a copy of a copyrighted work carries with it the right to publicly exhibit the work... summer camps, public libraries, daycare facilities, and non-classroom use at schools and universities are all examples of situations where a public performance license must be obtained. The Motion Picture Association of America
Find Out Which Films to Show with Our Handy Search Tool.
Check out our search tool above to find movies by title, studio, genre and more. If the movie appears in the search results, you can show it under your annual license. Don’t forget to check out our New Releases and Now Trending carousels for up-to-the-minute movie suggestions!
Did You Know Your License Covers Your Entire Library Building?
Anyone can legally show a movie in your building as long as it is from one of the many studios we cover. Offer the use of your movie license to civic groups, book clubs and any outside organizations interested in movie programming to earn extra funds.
Looking for the Rules About Promoting Your Film Showings?
You are free to advertise the movie title, studio name and movie artwork within your library building. However, artwork cannot be altered and must contain the studio’s copyright, for example © 2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. We also provide free Movie Licensing USA publicity you can use that is already properly copyrighted! Just log into your account and enter the customer number on your license certificate to access these complimentary materials.
You can also advertise the movie's title, studio name and movie artwork on your library’s website and in correspondence such as standard mailings, emails and monthly newsletters to registered borrowers/card holders of the library. If your social media accounts are set to private, you may use the title when promoting your event, though it is preferred and recommended that you link to the title on the library’s website instead of listing the movie’s title.
Here’s How to Get Copies of the Movies You Want to Show.
You can show movies that are purchased, rented or borrowed from any legal source (DVD, digital copies or any other legal format). In terms of streaming movies, we recommend checking the terms and conditions of the service you use to confirm that they do not prohibit public performances
We Make License Renewals Simple.
Licensing is available in one to four year terms. We’ll mail you a renewal packet 30 days prior to your current license’s expiration date. Once the renewal invoice is paid, the new license will be active for the dates listed.
Movies Provide Awesome Fundraising Opportunities.
Did you know you can ask for a donation at your film screening to help fund your license? Your library can also partner with other local organizations that may want to sponsor a movie night. This is a great chance for other groups to gain exposure, talk to patrons about their mission and answer any questions. Movies also pair really well with dinner and a movie events where you could sell tickets to cover the cost of the meal. Garage sales, read-a-thons, rummage sales, charity events and trivia nights are other events in which movies can successfully play a part.