Thank you for your interest in showing a movie on campus. This page has been designed to provide student groups with all of the necessary information to successfully program a movie event in conjunction with the UAB films program, the Campus Cinema, or Harris Field.

After you have selected the movie that you would like to view as part of a program, your first step is to purchase a public viewing license ($300.00 -$1000.00) and rights to show the film in public, which is a public performance fee ($300.00 - $1000.00). Even if you choose to show the movie for free, you are still required to purchase the copyrights. Federal copyright Laws protect all movies viewed in public areas regardless of format (35 mm, video tape or DVD). Video Tapes and DVDs that are available for purchase, rented from many commercial establishments, or checked out of the library are for home viewing purposes only. Which means they can only be viewed in your private living spaces. For assistance with obtaining a license, you may contact the Campus Activities Staff in Witherspoon room 104, (919) 515-5161. The Campus Cinema Staff works with a variety of film distributors including but not limited to: Criterion Pictures, Swank, New Yorker Films, and Universal Studios. In addition to the license fee and performance fee, there are shipping fees, and if you choose to view a 35 mm film in the cinema there is a $500.00 charge for use of the projector. If you obtain a film own on your own, you are required to provide the campus cinema with a copy of the license for the event.

As a resource to you, we have included information from the Motion Picture Association of America's anti piracy office regarding copyright law. Information regarding the reservation process (including links), equipment needs, and associated rental fees are located at the bottom of this page.

What the Law Says

The present copyright law establishes the principal that a copyright is property and no one can use someone else's property without permission of the owner or the owner's licensing agent. To protect this property right, the law gives the copyright owner the right to license any public performance of the work with only a few exceptions to this provision. The law also permits the owner or licensing agent to collect a fee when others use the protected work. It is because of copyright enforcement efforts that schools are now hearing of their obligations under the law.

By law, as well as by intent, the pre-recorded home videocassettes and videodiscs which are available in stores throughout the United States are for home use only - unless you have a license to show them elsewhere.

The Federal Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code) governs how copyrighted materials, such as movies, may be used.

Neither the rental nor purchase of a videocassette carries with it the right to show the tape outside of the home. No license is required to view a videotape inside the home by a family or social acquaintances, and home videocassettes may also be shown, without a license, in certain narrowly defined face-to-face teaching activities (Federal Copyright Act, Title 17, section 110.1). All other showings of the home videocassettes are illegal unless they have been authorized by license .

Taverns, restaurants, private clubs, prisons, lodges, factories, summer camps, public libraries, day-care facilities, parks and recreation departments, churches, and non-classroom use at schools and universities are all examples of situations 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 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).

Penalties for Copyright Infringement

"Willful" infringement done for purposes of commercial or financial gain is a federal crime and is punishable as a felony, carrying a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail and/or a $150,000 fine. Even inadvertent infringers are subject to substantial civil damages, ranging from $500 to $20,000 for each illegal showing.

Face-to-Face Teaching

The face-to-face teaching exemption is valid only in situations where a teacher is present in a classroom, using a home videocassette for the purpose of teaching to students in a so-called "face-to-face" manner. This educational exemption is narrowly defined and only applies to full-time, nonprofit academic institutions.

Why Is Hollywood Concerned About Such Performances?

The concept of "public performance" is central to copyright and the issue of protection for "intellectual property." If a movie producer, an author, a computer programmer, or a musician does not retain ownership of his or her "work", there would be little incentive for them to continue. There would be little chance of recouping their enormous investment in research and development, much less profits to turn back into future endeavors.

Unauthorized public performances in the U.S. are estimated to rob the movie industry of between $1.5-$2.0 million each year alone. Unfortunately, unauthorized public performances are just the tip of the iceberg. The movie studios lose over $150 million annually due to pirated videotapes and several hundred million more dollars because of illegal satellite and cable TV receptions.

Reservations

After you have selected your film and identified a distributor for the film you may reserve either the campus cinema or Harris Field. Registered student groups may reserve the campus cinema at no charge, unless viewing a 35 mm film in which case a $500.00 service fee will be charged for equipment use. In order to reserve the cinema, please contact the Talley Events and Reservations Office at 515-2249. If you are interested in offering an outdoor film on Harris Field, please contact the SOURCE Office at 515-3323 to obtain an outdoor permit.

Equipment Needs

Indoors – Campus Cinema

The Campus Cinema is a fully functioning movie theater supported by the Union Activities Board. We are equipped to show films on a variety of formats including: 35 mm, VHS, and DVD.

Outdoors – Harris Field

If you decide to offer a film outdoors, you will need a table, a DVD or vhs player, a projector, sound system and speakers. If you do not have access to this equipment, the Campus Cinema will provide the equipment and staff to set up, tear down, and manage the program for a fee of $100.00. The Campus Cinema cannot guarantee the quality of the image projected on the side of the Witherspoon. If you would prefer a more elaborate set up, including Dolby 5.1 surround sound and a 12 x 12 outdoor screen, we have a local vendor that we will proudly recommend. However, the fee is substantially more.

Fees, Costs, and Fines

Public Viewing License	$300.00 - $1000.00
Public Performance Fee	$300.00 - $1000.00
Shipping Fees	$30.00 - $90.00 depends on format
35 mm projector use fee (cinema)	$500.00
Outdoor equipment and staff	$100.00
Professional contracted outdoor set up	$700.00+
Willful infringement	Up to $150,000.00
Inadvertent infringement	Up to $20,000.00

Additional information on movies and copyright laws can be found at the bottom of this page.  If you have further questions regarding the viewing/showing of films on campus please contact Rick Gardner, Campus Activities, at (919)-515-5168. 

Motion Picture Association: http://www.mpaa.org/

United States Copyright Office: http://www.copyright.gov/

Last updated: January 17, 2007

Policy Disclaimer