Film Screening and Fair Use
In the United States, films are copyrighted works and the rights of filmmakers and distributors are protected under the U.S. Copyright Act. There are thus limitations on public performance of films. Non-profit educational institutions are granted some exemptions under Section 110 of the U.S. Copyright Act, including an exemption for:
“performance or display of a work by instructors or pupils in the course of face-to-face teaching activities of a nonprofit educational institution, in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction”
Educational uses of film fall within “fair use” of copyrighted material. Any public performance of films outside of teaching activities, regardless of whether or not admission is charged, requires permission from the copyright holder.
Please refer to [Columbia University’s site]( http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/fair-use/) on fair use for a full explanation of what is and is not considered fair use in an educational setting.
Requesting purchase of films for public performance
Mason Library will purchase films for the collection with public performance rights when possible and appropriate, provided that the library is informed of the intent to publicly show a film when it is requested.
Note that feature films and some documentaries cannot be purchased with public performance rights.
Using Mason Library films for public performance
Groups on campus (including but not limited to student groups, academic departments, clubs, athletic teams, and organizational departments) may use Mason Library films for public performance provided that:
1. The film was purchased by the library with public performance rights; or
2. The group screening the film has obtained public performance rights
Please note that the majority of films in the library collection have not been purchased with performance rights. Please contact the Collection Services Librarian to inquire if a film has been purchased with public performance rights.
The group sponsoring the event is responsible for the procurement and payment of public performance rights. This can be done by either contacting the distributor, or licensing a one-time screening through a company like Swank Motion Pictures. The library may assist with the procurement of rights at the discretion of the Collection Services Team.
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