Sue Shaffer Learning Commons and Library: Guides: Digital Media &amp; eBooks: Public Performance Rights

Obtaining Public Performance Rights

If you want to show a copyrighted film in a public setting, you will need to contact the appropriate licensing service company to obtain permission.

For complete information regarding copyright law in the United States please click the link below.

Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17)
This publication contains the text of Title 17 of the United States Code, including all amendments enacted by Congress through December 23, 2022. It includes the Copyright Act of 1976 and all subsequent amendments to copyright law; the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984, as amended; and the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act, as amended. The Copyright Office is responsible for registering intellectual property claims under all three.

Public Performance Rights: An Overview

Public Performance Rights (PPR) are the legal rights to publicly show a film or video (media). Normally the media producer or distributor manages these rights. The rights-holder (or their designate) can assign PPR to others through a Public Performance License. It is considered a public performance if any of the following are true:

The screening is open to the public
The screening is in a public space (dorm lounge, library, auditorium, etc.)
Access is not restricted
Persons attending are outside normal constituency (visitors to campus)

Showing media, whether borrowed from the library or rented, purchased, or streamed, to groups outside of the classroom may be illegal, and may place the College at legal risk.

PPR are required if you are screening copyrighted media to audiences for purposes that fall outside regular curriculum-based instruction. These include:

Student organization events (e.g. movie night)
Meetings, programs, or other events on campus
Film series/festivals

PPR are not required for:

Home viewing
Screening media in the context of face-to-face teaching in the service of regular curricula.
- See: Title 17 of the United States Code, Chapter 1, Section 110 (Page 24).

All films featured in Films on Demand contain PPR:

"The videos in your subscription include public performance rights and can be shown in class, in the library, or remotely to students, faculty, patrons, and community members"

Films on Demand: Master Academic Package This link opens in a new window
Films On Demand’s video library has been assembled not just with a focus on volume, but also with a discerning eye for quality and relevance. It is the result of decades of careful curating with a single guiding principle: providing every academic department on campus with the most essential video titles for their field of study. Plus, Films On Demand titles have won numerous awards, including Peabody, CLIO, Telly, Emmy®, CINE Golden Eagle Award, Video Librarian Best Documentary, FREDDIE Award, and many more!

This database contains selected films with public performance rights. Look for the "PPR" icon on the film's page in Kanopy.

Kanopy This link opens in a new window
Kanopy is a digital, streaming service which offers access to thousands of documentaries and films on topics that are of interest to our community, and support our curriculum.

All resources provided within Kanopy's platform are available for streaming in the classroom at no extra cost. Additionally, these items can be easily embedded into any Canvas course shell, are closed-captioned, provide APA & MLA citations, and are presented advertisement free. There are a number of titles on this platform that can be streamed outside of the classroom at campus events at no additional cost.
This database is funded by a grant from The Whipple Foundation through November 30, 2025.

What about DVDs?

The UCC library no longer has a circulating DVD collection, however, this does not mean that Public Performance Rights are not required - they ARE REQUIRED. In this instance, it is the responsibility of the user to secure proper PPR.

Funding for Public Performance Licenses is limited, and as such the UCC library requests that faculty, staff, & students use materials from these databases prior to seeking funding for films via external resources.

Before requesting that the library purchase licensing, please ensure that your request meets the following criteria:

The film or films are required viewing for an entire class and serve a specified pedagogical purpose
Streaming films will be purchased through approved library vendors that offer institutional licensing and meet our technical requirements.
Certain licensing, technical, and infrastructure restrictions prohibit the library from purchasing streaming rights for:
- Films available on services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon, and others that do not provide institutional licensing
- Films offered only through independent filmmakers

Faculty should request licensing for streaming films by using the "Library Acquisition Request" form below