Before showing a movie at school, MAKE SURE YOU’RE COMPLIANT!
Many schools use movies for a variety of programs and activities. In order to legally show a movie outside of a home setting, federal copyright law requires obtaining a public performance license because the rights and permission remain with the movie’s copyright owner.
This legal requirement applies:
- Regardless of how the movies are obtained
- Whether or not an admission fee is charged
- Whether the facility or organization is commercial or non-profit including PTA or school sponsored
- Whether a federal, state or local agency is involved
There are two main licensing agents that supply most of the movie titles you may be interested in showing. Once a movie is selected, start the RQS process and fill out the single movie event form and attach the completed form to the RQS document.
** If PTA is using funds to purchase the movie, a check along with the completed form should be sent to the company prior to the event.
Swank Motion Pictures dba Movie licensing USA, vendor # 24205, commodity code: 111PA03 (Payment in Advance) Movie Licensing USA Single Event License Order Form.pdf
Contact: John Guerra – PH: 877-321-1300 – Email: jguerra@movlic.com – Website: www.movlic.com
or
Contact: Kaitlin Morgan – PH: 1-800-876-5577 – Email: KMORGAN@SWANK.COM
- Walt Disney Pictures
- Warner Bros.
- Dreamworks
- Paramount
- Sony
- Touchstone
- Many more
Criterion Pictures USA, Inc., vendor # 29075, commodity code: 111PA03 (Payment in Advance) Criterion Single Event License Order Form.pdf
Contact: Katie Dintelman, PH: 1-800-890-9494 ext. 254 Email: katie.dintelman@globaleagle.com
Website: www.criterionpicusa.com
- 20th Century Fox
* * * If your site is planning on showing more than two movies, it would be beneficial to pay for the annual event license. Contact the vendor for more information. * * *