Film Screenings at ASU – Campus Policies and Federal Copyright Law
This site is intended to provide a brief and cursory overview of Federal Copyright Laws and university policies that govern the screening of films on the Appalachian State University campus. The Federal Copyright Act (Public law 94-553, Title 17 of the United States Code) governs the conditions under which copyrighted materials, such as films, may be screened.
This information has been reviewed and approved by the Appalachian State University’s Attorney’s Office.
Public Campus Screening
If you would like to screen a film on campus as part of a public campus program (including an academic film series), you must obtain a Public Performance License (typical range: $300.00 - $500.00) for the individual film(s) from a licensing agent (a list is provided below), which allows you the right to screen your film publicly on the ASU campus. This license is required even if your film is offered to the public for free and is educational in nature. If using University facilities for the screening, you will be required to provide the appropriate University entity with a copy of the license that specifies the title and screening date of the approved film.
Federal Copyright Laws protect all movies viewed in public areas regardless of format (16 mm, 35 mm, video tape or DVD). Video Tapes and DVDs that are available for purchase, rental, or library check-out are for private home viewing purposes only.
There are, however, a few exceptions. You may screen the film publicly if:
- The film is in the Public Domain.
- You have written permission from the film’s producer or other holder of the right to grant such permission.
- The film is obtained from a company that provides a Public Performance License with the purchase of the film.
The ASU Library has a small selection of films that come with a Public Performance License. These films are most often documentary in nature, and typically do not include commercial or theatrically released films. Producing proof of this public exhibition privilege is the responsibility of the person wishing to screen the film. (NOTE: The "Air Copy" sticker on library- owned videos is NOT an indicator that the film includes public performance rights.)
The University Library has acquired a Public Performance License with DVDs or videos purchased from the following companies:
- Appalshop. Titles purchased under the company's "educational use" option include public performance rights when no admission is charged. (The Library's Appalshop films include such rights.)
- Bullfrog Films. Include public performance rights where no admission is charged. Public performance rights are NOT included for those listed as "Home Use Versions."
- Filmmakers Library, Inc. Titles include public performance rights in educational institutions when no admission is charged.
- Films Media Group. Titles are licensed:
- for use within the single building or single physical campus
- for public performance rights which include closed-circuit transmission within a single, geographically unified campus.
- First Run/Icarus Films. Titles purchased from First Run/Icarus Films are licensed with Public Performance Rights for non-commercial and educational exhibition when no admission fee is charged.
- Frameline. Titles purchased through an institutional purchase from Frameline include public performance rights in an educational institution where no admission is charged.
- Media Education Foundation. All purchased videos and DVDs are licensed:
- for closed-circuit viewing within the institution that made the purchase; and
- for classroom viewing and public screening where no admission is charged.
- rights to "stream" or "webcast" via an internet server are NOT included, even if password protected.
- Video Project. Institutional prices include license for non-commercial public performance where no admission fee is charged
- Zipporah Films. The following titles are licensed for non-commercial public performance on campus only: "Basic Training," "Central Park," "Cool World," "High School," "Hospital," "Meat," "Primate," "Store," "Titicut Follies," and "Welfare"
Classroom Screenings/Face-to-Face Teaching
The Federal Copyright Law allows for the screening of a DVD or videocassette, without a license, in certain narrowly defined face-to-face teaching activities (Federal Copyright Act, Title 17, section 110(1). Appalachian State University understands that the face-to-face teaching exemption is valid only in situations where a teacher is present in a non-public classroom environment, uses a ”lawfully made” DVD, videocassette, or other motion picture or audiovisual work for the purpose of teaching part of a course curriculum, and the screening is not open to the public. This educational exemption only applies to nonprofit academic institutions. Further, a motion picture in whatever format (including DVD or videocassette) that has been made by copying or recording on a home (or similar) recording device (e.g., VHS or DVD recorder) is not lawfully made for purposes of this exemption. A DVD or video recording that was manufactured and distributed by an entity having the right to do so, and that has been purchased, rented, or borrowed from a library, is lawfully made.
Federal Copyright Law.
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General Film Usage Restrictions under the Federal Copyright Act
Restaurants, prisons, summer camps, public libraries, day-care facilities, parks and recreation departments, churches, and non-classroom use at schools and universities are all examples of screenings where a public performance license must be obtained. This legal requirement applies regardless of whether an admission fee is charged, whether the institution or organization is commercial or non-profit, or whether a federal or state agency is involved.
Businesses, institutions, organizations, companies or individuals wishing to engage in non-home showings of home videocassettes or DVDs must secure licenses to do so - regardless of whether an admission or other fee is charged (Section 501). This legal requirement applies equally to profit-making organizations and non-profit institutions (Senate Report No. 94-473, page 59; House Report No. 94-1476, page 62).
Steps for screening a film in Belk Library and Information Commons
To reserve space in Room 114:
- Complete the online reservation request form. If the date/time is available, and public performance rights are required, your reservation will flagged as 'TENTATIVE.'
- If the film screening does not meet the Classroom Screenings/Face-to-Face Teaching then a letter of permission for public performance or a Public Performance License must be provided before your reservation can be confirmed. This proof must be provided at least 48 hours (and during Monday through Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm) prior to the event or your reservation will be cancelled.
- Once your reservation is confirmed and prior to the scheduled date, contact Katherine Alford alfordka@appstate.edu (or at 828-262-4972) for training on the equipment.
- PLEASE DO NOT ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT UNTIL YOU HAVE A CONFIRMATION IN HAND!
Room 114: DVD and VHS capability. Capacity is 125 theater-style seating.
Non-theatrical movie distributors and Public Performance Licensing Agents for publicly exhibited film screenings. Film catalogs vary with each company.
| Swank | www.swank.com |
| Criterion | www.criterionpicusa.com |
| New Yorker Films | www.newyorkerfilms.com |
| First Run/Icarus Films | www.frif.com |
| October Films | www.octoberfilms.co.uk |
| Filmakers Library, Inc. | www.filmakers.com |
| Women Make Movies | www.wmm.com |
Federal Copyright Website: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/
Motion Picture Association: http://www.mpaa.org/