Am I allowed to show movies or TV series in public spaces?
December 31, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Verena Friedendahl
Dear lawyer,
My name is Ella Knorr and I have a question regarding copyright law. I am part of a small community that regularly organizes events in public spaces. We would like to show movies or series to strengthen the cohesion in our community and spend evenings together. However, I am unsure if this is legally allowed.
Currently, we are showing movies and series through streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime. We have not obtained permission from the rights holders and I wonder if this could be problematic. These are events to which the residents of our neighborhood are invited and are publicly accessible.
My concerns are that we could be violating copyright law and facing legal consequences. I want to ensure that we are conducting everything correctly and legally to avoid potential issues.
Can you tell me if it is allowed to show movies or series in public spaces without obtaining permission from the rights holders? Are there possible solutions or alternative ways to do this legally?
Thank you in advance for your support and advice.
Sincerely,
Ella Knorr
Dear Mrs. Knorr,
Thank you for your question regarding copyright in relation to showing movies or series in public spaces without the permission of the rights holders. It is important to be aware that copyright protects the rights of artists and creators and is therefore legally regulated as to when and how their works can be shown publicly.
In your case, when you show movies or series through streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime, you should be aware that this is only permitted for private use. This means that you are only allowed to watch the content in your own private space and are not allowed to make it publicly accessible without obtaining the necessary rights.
However, if you show the movies or series in a public space, for example at events where the residents of your neighborhood are invited, it constitutes a public performance. In this case, you need the permission of the rights holders in order to not infringe on copyright. Without this permission, you could actually risk legal consequences such as warnings or claims for damages.
There are legal ways to show movies or series in public spaces. One option would be to obtain a license from the rights holders. This means that you would need to reach an agreement with the rights holders to be able to show their works publicly. However, this comes with costs and requires some lead time, as you need to seek permission in advance.
Another option would be to use public screenings of movies or series where the necessary rights have already been cleared. There are agencies or companies specialized in securing licenses for public film screenings that can assist you in this regard.
It is important to take copyright seriously in order to respect the rights of the creators and avoid legal issues. I strongly recommend that you reach out to the rights holders or explore alternative legal options to ensure that your events in public spaces are conducted correctly and legally.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you and I am available for any further questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Verena Friedendahl
