Public performance rights are an important consideration for any library or industry seeking to publicly screen films. All public screenings must comply with copyright law or be subject to a fine, so a public viewing license is required to show movies in public. But what is the cost of a license, and what are the different options for securing public performance rights?
How much are public performance rights?
There are multiple ways you can go about securing public performance rights (PPR), but each method will have a different price.
From Distributor Sites
One such method is to purchase PPR with a DVD. Several DVD Distributors in Video Librarian’s distributor database offer public performance rights with a DVD purchase, such as EPF Media, Women Make Movies, and Kino Lorber. These will typically be documentaries and independent features and will range from about $100 to $500, depending on the setting in which one intends to screen the film. For example, a movie license for public libraries or community groups will cost less than a license for colleges and universities.
It’s also possible to obtain a public viewing license through distributors for a limited number of screenings. Some DVD Distributor sites provide forms where you can obtain rights to a public screening. The cost will depend on several factors, such as the venue, the expected number of attendees, whether you plan on charging admission, and how many screenings you will be hosting.
From Licensing Companies
If the distributing company isn’t selling the film you would like to screen with public performance rights, you can buy a public performance license through licensing services like Criterion Collection, Swank Motion Pictures, and MPLC. Together, these services represent major film companies like Walt Disney, Dreamworks, A24, Warner Bros., and Marvel Studios.
Obtaining a public viewing license can cost anywhere from $300 to upwards of $2,000. To get an exact quote for your public screening, you will need to fill out a form with these movie licensing services. The price will depend on the film, how many people are expected to attend the screening, the location, and whether you’re charging for admission.
An Umbrella License
If your library or organization will be screening films regularly, an MPLC umbrella license is a great option. According to the MPLC website, you can receive “public performance rights from more than 1,000 rights holders with only a few title exclusions” and “enjoy unlimited exhibitions without any reporting requirements” by paying an annual license fee. However, the umbrella license only covers public screenings where there is no charge for admission.
The price of the fee depends on several factors, including your industry (MPLC licenses libraries, parks, universities, clubs, hospitals, and more) and the size of your audience. According to an MPLC representative, approximate MPLC annual license fees for 2022 are as follows: $689 for indoor community/recreation centers; $159-369 for K-12 schools, based on each school’s full-time enrollment; and $589 for a campus-wide university license.
The cost for public libraries is based on how many people live in your library’s service area. The smaller the population in your service area, the smaller the annual fee. For a population of up to 10,000 people, the annual license fee is $169; $259 for $10,001-50,000 people; $309 for 50,001-100,000 people; and $389 for more than 100,000 people. To get an exact quote for your umbrella license, you can complete an application at MPLC’s website. It should be noted that pricing will increase in 2023, and each type of facility has its own unique rights holder/producer rights.
According to the organization, “MPLC has been helping libraries around the US stay copyright compliant for the past 30 years. Residents from communities across the nation benefit from the MPLC license by being able to view fantastic TV and Film content legally at their local library and school.”
For more information, check out our guide to the umbrella license.
Moving forward with your knowledge of public performance rights
In conclusion, public performance licenses are a vital consideration for libraries and industries that want to screen films publicly. There are different options for securing public performance rights, such as purchasing a DVD with public performance rights from a distributor or obtaining a public viewing license from licensing companies. The cost of these licenses will depend on various factors such as the film, the number of attendees, the location, and whether you plan on charging admission.
An MPLC umbrella license is a great option for libraries or organizations that will be screening films regularly. It provides public performance rights from more than 1,000 rights holders, allowing unlimited exhibitions without any reporting requirements. However, the umbrella license only covers public screenings where there is no charge for admission. The cost of the fee for an umbrella license will depend on several factors, including your industry and the size of your audience.
Regardless of the method used to secure public performance rights, it is crucial to comply with copyright law to avoid fines or other legal consequences. Libraries and industries that want to ensure they are copyright compliant can benefit from the services provided by companies like MPLC. By obtaining the necessary licenses, they can legally provide their communities with access to high-quality films and TV content.
Public screenings can bring communities together in a big way. All the movie licensing options and costs may seem overwhelming, but we can’t stress enough how important it is to comply with copyright law when showing movies in public. For more information about this topic, check our guide to public performance rights.