Do I Really Need Permission to Show Movies Outside of My Home?

Have you ever wanted to show a movie or DVD outside of your home, like at a church or to people at your place of business? If you do, there are some important rules you need to know. Let's break it down in a way that's easy to understand.

When You Need Permission

If you show a movie, DVD, or any video outside your home, you usually need to get permission. This is because the people who made the movie have special rights called "copyrights." These rights mean they get to decide where and how their movie is shown.

Special Exceptions for Schools

Sometimes, schools can show movies without needing special permission. This is called an "exception." For example, if your school has something called the Roadshow Schools Co-curricular Licence, they can show movies in class without getting extra permission. Your teacher can tell you more about this.

Multiple Copyrights in One Movie

Did you know that one movie can have many copyrights? It's not just the movie itself; it can also include music and other stuff. So, to show a movie, you might need permission from more than one person or company.

One way to get all the permissions you need is by renting the movie from a distributor who can give you the right permissions. If the movie has music, you might also need a license from a group called OneMusic Australia.

Owning a Movie Isn’t Enough

Just because you own a copy of a movie or DVD doesn’t mean you can show it in public. The same goes for streaming services like Netflix or Stan. Even if you pay for a subscription, it doesn't give you the right to show movies to a group of people outside your home.

Non-Profit Organizations and Public Screenings

Even non-profit groups like churches or clubs need permission to show movies. It doesn’t matter if they aren’t charging money to watch the movie. They still need to get the okay from the people who own the movie rights.

Why is Permission Needed?

The people who make movies, like filmmakers and musicians, have rights to their work. This means they get to decide how their movies are used. If you want to show a movie in a way that's usually reserved for the owner, you need to ask them first. This rule also applies if you only want to show a small part of the movie.

What Counts as Public Screening?

Showing a movie anywhere outside your home is usually considered a public screening. This could be at a school, church, club, pub, restaurant, or even a shopping center. Here are some examples to make it clear:

• If a bank showed a training video to 11 employees, a court said it was a public screening.
• Showing movies in motel rooms was also considered public.

Conclusion

Remember, if you want to show a movie outside your home, you need to get permission. This helps protect the rights of the people who made the movie. Always check the rules before you plan a movie night at school, a club, or anywhere outside your home. For more information on how to get the right permissions, visit bsml.com.au or contact the Big Studio Movie Licensing Team at hello@bsml.com.au or 03 4240 3034.

(This blog was produced with content from the Australian Copyright Council’s Fact Sheet on “Films, DVDs, TV & Streaming Services: Screening in Public.”)