Body
Overview
Showing a movie to a group, whether on a large screen or a standard TV, generally requires a Public Performance License (PPL) under federal copyright law. This applies across campus, including classrooms outside instructional use, common spaces, event venues, and outdoor screenings. This article explains when a license is required, when it isn't, and how to obtain one.
When a License Is Required
Under the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 106, § 110), showing a movie to any group outside an individual's private living space counts as a "public performance." This includes any place where people are gathered who are not family members, such as a classroom, library, auditorium, or meeting room. Maryland State Library Resource Center
Regardless of the situation:
- Admission doesn't matter. A license is required whether or not you charge for the screening.
- Nonprofit and religious status doesn't matter. Nonprofit status provides no copyright exemption, and religious organizations are not exempt from copyright law. Premiereoutdoormovie
- Ownership doesn't grant public performance rights. Renting, owning, or purchasing a movie does not carry the right to show it publicly, since consumer copies are sold as "home use only." This includes DVDs, Blu-rays, and personal streaming subscriptions such as Netflix or Disney+. Swank Motion Pictures
Private Dorm Room Exception
An individual student's own residence hall room is treated differently from other campus spaces. Showing a film in a dorm room generally does not count as a public performance, as long as attendance is limited to family or a small circle of friends. This reflects the copyright exception for display in a non-public space such as a private home or dorm room, where viewing happens among a normal circle of family or social acquaintances. UtulsaOswego
This exception applies only when:
- The screening is limited to a small, informal group of friends or roommates.
- There's no public announcement, flyer, or advertising for the screening.
- The screening takes place in a student's individual living space, not a shared or public area of the residence hall.
If you're planning a screening in any other campus space, including shared or common areas, contact the Office of Student Life, Conference and Events or Information Technology before assuming this exception applies to your event.
Public Domain Films
Some films no longer carry copyright protection and can be shown without a license. This applies to films whose copyright has expired or was never secured, which is common for many pre-1929 releases and older titles that lost copyright through failure to renew under prior law.
Confirming public domain status takes care:
- Many online claims that a film is "public domain" are incorrect.
- Remastered or colorized versions of a public domain film can carry their own separate copyright.
- Studios sometimes retain trademark rights even after the underlying copyright has lapsed.
If you can't clearly verify a title is public domain, treat it as copyrighted and obtain a license.
How to Get a License
For any copyrighted film, obtain a Public Performance License (PPL) from a licensing agency such as Swank Motion Pictures, the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC), or Criterion Pictures USA, by identifying the film and screening details and paying the associated fee. LegalClarity
A few things to know about licensing:
- Licenses are typically issued per title and per screening date.
- A recurring movie series needs either repeated single-title licenses or a broader umbrella license covering multiple screenings.
- Responsibility for copyright infringement falls primarily on the venue's management, so departments and organizations hosting a screening share this responsibility. Swank Motion Pictures
Texas State Law
Texas does not have a separate state statute governing movie licensing. Copyright is exclusively a matter of federal law, so no additional state-level requirement applies beyond the Copyright Act and licensing through the agencies listed above.
Before You Plan a Screening
If you're organizing a movie screening for a class, department, student organization, or campus event, contact Conference and Events before the event to confirm event details. Conference and Events can coordinate with the Office of Student Life, Information Technology and other departments to support your event and confirm licensing and policy details as applicable.
Regulations Referenced
- Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 106 (exclusive rights of copyright holders)
- 17 U.S.C. § 110 (exemptions, including face-to-face teaching)
- 18 U.S.C. § 2319 (criminal copyright infringement penalties)