Thread: Copyrighted movies in your display

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Every year I set up a very small display. I only ever get 12-20 TOTers each year. I know them all so no complaints. We decorate pumpkins, I built huge spider webs that enclose my porch with a few spiders. I do put a pull down screen and hide my projector under the coffee table on the porch. I play "the great pumpkin charlie brown" I've done it for 5 years with no problems. Last year, the cops showed up and made me turn it off at 6:10. Its illegal to publicly display copyrighted works.

Anybody else have such issues?

Sounds like a crock of shiat to me. I'm sure there is some legal mumbo jumbo that they are following because some jerk passerby or neighbor reported it... but the common sense application is stupid.

You aren't distributing it or charging admission. Essentially, they could tell you to close your blinds if your big screen tv could be seen from the street. And you are projecting on your porch? Ugh...

I'd do it again unless the cops were *shocker* jerks about it last year. Google "The biggest gang in america" for fun.

Yes, what you were doing was illegal. However, I can't believe that the police had nothing better to do than shut you down. Do you think that maybe one of your neighbors complained and they used the copyright issue as an excuse?

Yep, the copywrite of the movie prohibits this. I agree, that it is stupid and that you aren't doing this for profit, but a lot of schools have been sued in recent years for showing movies to kids. I know that many still do this, but where I live, you can't do that. Disney is the worst about taking on lawsuits for their movies.

Technically, the cops are right.

Show Movies In Your School or Library Legally | Performance Licensing
Movie_Viewing2

Quotes from the site:
What constitutes "public performance" of an entertainment movie?
Any showing of an entertainment movie outside the privacy of a home setting is considered a public performance (or public exhibition).

and

This legal copyright compliance requirement applies to public libraries, schools, daycare facilities, parks, recreation departments, summer camps, churches, private clubs, prisons, lodges, businesses, etc.
This legal requirement applies:

* Regardless of whether an admission fee is charged
* Whether the institution or organization is commercial or non-profit
* Whether a federal, state or local agency is involved


The chances of any movie copyright holder actually coming after a homeowner showing a movie in this context - for a Halloween display - is pretty darn small, but you still face a risk for "inadvertent infringement" that carries a fine minimum of $500 .

Now personal opinion, I think they should have let you slide for something like this... and have no idea why someone would have reported you. It is silly to enforce it for a small haunter.

Meanwhile, the local liquor store was probably being robbed and the clerk savagely beaten...

But thank God they protected a movie studio's rights!

Originally Posted by wilbret

Meanwhile, the local liquor store was probably being robbed and the clerk savagely beaten...

But thank God they protected a movie studio's rights!

Yup, it sucks that they wasted time on that instead of even catching a speeder or something. No one is disagreeing that the law is stupid to enforce for this situation!

I'm sure that it was a neighbor complaint. I think it is fair use, but it seems the law says otherwise. I would like to use my projector this year to to do a window display. I have 2 old sanyo projectors that I need to replace fans in. If I get one finished in time I may just try the movie again. I remember seeing it on tv everyyear, but not for a long time. When I found it forsale it was like striking gold.

Frankie's girl

Thanks for the link.. going to read more. seems my backyard theater is illegal too. it is a close group of friends but...... its not inside the home.

No worries about the liquor stores. They are all state owned. Pa is a backwards state on another planet.