Movies, Film Screenings, & Copyright Compliance
Student clubs planning to show a movie, documentary, television program, or other copyrighted video content as part of an event must comply with U.S. copyright law and college policies. Public and advertised screenings require a public performance license or written permission from the copyright holder, even when the event is free, held on campus, or intended for educational purposes.
Public Screenings
A screening is considered a public performance when it takes place outside of a private home setting. Classroom screenings that are part of face-to-face instruction in a class may qualify for copyright exemption. However, students club events, social gatherings, fundraisers, and recreational movie nights do not qualify and require screening rights.
Before Requesting & Showing a Movie
Student clubs must obtain one of the following before requesting, advertising or hosting a film event:
- A valid Public Performance License (PPL) or screening rights for the film.
- Written permission from the film’s copyright holder, studio, distributor or authorized licensing agent.
Simply purchasing, renting, borrowing, downloading, or streaming a move through services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, or a personal DVD collection does not grant the right to show a film at a club event. Clubs must receive both the screening rights and event approval before holding the event.
Failure to secure appropriate rights will result in the denial of the event and could expose the sponsoring organization and college to copyright infringement claims. Clubs considering a movie screening or are unsure whether licensing is required should contact clubs@cwi.edu early in the planning process to assist clubs in determining licensing requirements, estimated screening costs, and identifying resources for obtaining public performance rights.