Copyright Resources: Public Performance Rights for Screening Media

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.

When are Public Performance Rights required?

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)

  • See: Classroom Use Exemption box on the Copyright and Teaching tab in this guide

• Screening openly-licensed or public domain films

PPR are required for:

• All screenings of copyrighted media to audiences outside of regular curriculum. Examples:

  • Student club events

  • Extracurricular sponsored events such as general lectures

  • Film series

  • Online teaching environments

Showing unlicensed media, whether borrowed from the library or rented, purchased, or streamed, to groups outside of the face-to-face classroom may be illegal, and may place the offending party and university at legal risk.

KU Libraries content and PPR

Since KU Libraries acquires media to support the curriculum, and face-to-face teaching is exempt from PPR, KU Libraries does not typically secure PPR with video purchases due to higher associated costs. However, many distributors of our educational videos include PPR in the purchase price, which means these videos can be shown under conditions specified by the license. Where PPR have been purchased with KU Libraries content there will generally be a statement in the notes field on the record in the catalog, and sometimes on the content itself. For more information about KU Libraries and PPR video content, contact acqrs@ku.edu.

For general information about streaming video provided through KU Libraries see this Streaming Video guide. Please note that streaming content is also subject to license restrictions and may also require PPR for public viewing.

Securing Public Performance Rights

Individuals and organizations are responsible for obtaining performance rights for publicly screened media. KU community-members seeking PPR rights may contact Ask a Librarian for assistance determining what rights are needed, who should acquire them, and from where.