Showing films and movies at Curtin
This page provides advice on how members of the Curtin community can navigate the copyright requirements around screening a film or movie at Curtin outside a normal classroom setting.
Background
Films, movies, documentaries and other similar audiovisual works are subject to copyright. Without the permission of the copyright holder, these works cannot be shown in public. To show a film, you will need to obtain permission from the rightsholder.
Performance Rights Permission for Film
For many films/movies you will be able to obtain permission from one of two companies:
- Roadshow Public Performance Licensing: roadshowppl.com.au
- Amalgamated Movies: www.amalgamatedmovies.com
For content with smaller distribution, you may need to locate the copyright holder and seek direct permission from them. The National Sound and Film Archive (downloadable PDF) provide some useful advice in finding copyright holders. Please contact the Library Copyright team if you require advice on directly seeking permission from a rightsholder.
Performance Rights Permission for Music
In most cases, movies will contain recorded music in the form of the soundtrack to the movie. The copyright in this music is in most cases retained by the artist or another copyright holder.
When presenting on Curtin campus, the Tertiary Music Licence now permits presenting these separate works (the soundtrack music) with the movie, as long as the event tickets cost less than $40.
Video-Sharing Platforms and Streaming Services
In many cases, the content to be screened is available on the internet on a video sharing platform (e.g. YouTube, Twitch or Vimeo), a free on-demand streaming services (e.g. ABC iView, SBS on Demand, Tenplay, 7plus), or a subscription streaming service (e.g. Netflix, Stan, AppleTV, Binge). While this content is sometimes of low resolution or poor digital quality and not suitable to be shown in a large format, some of the content might be visually acceptable.
However, in using these content providers, viewers agree to the terms and conditions of the site or service. If you want to publicly display content from these sources, you will need to read the relevant allowances and restrictions given for the site and see if they permit or prohibit public performance. These are outlined in documents under a variety of names: Terms and Conditions, End User Licence Agreement, Terms of Service, User Agreement, etc.
Below are the relevant sections from some commonly used platforms:
YouTube – The YouTube Terms of Service only allow personal, non-commercial use and explicitly prohibit publicly screening videos. However, videos that have been marked with a Creative Commons Licence (Filters / Features / Creative Commons) may be displayed in public.
Netflix – The Netflix Terms Of Use only allow personal and private use. However, public display of Netflix content may be permitted for some works as outlined in their Educational Screenings of Documentaries page.
Disney+ – The Disney+ Subscriber agreement allows “personal, non-commercial use only”.
ABC iView, SBS on Demand – these services allow “personal, non-commercial” use only.
Clubs and Events
All Curtin Clubs wishing to screen films should speak directly with the Clubs Officer – the Clubs Officer is able to assist Clubs in seeking permission from rights holders, booking screening venues and much more. Additional information can be found at Run An Event.
Please note that this assistance is only available to registered Clubs and requires advance notice to begin the process.
FAQs
Q – I want to screen the film as a fundraiser. Do I still need to seek permission?
A – Yes.
Q – I want to screen the to generate interest for something, but entry is free – I’m not collecting any money and I am acting in a non-profit capacity. Do I still need to seek permission?
A – In some cases an organisation has already obtained permission for the public screening of a work from the copyright holders in order to generate interest for a large activity (Earth Hour, National Science Week, etc.). In this case, the permission has been obtained by someone else on your behalf and you are permitted to screen the work. If no organisation has obtained permission, you will have to do so.
Contact
For further information on the copyright requirements around public presentations, please contact the Library Copyright team.