Library Technology Help

• What are Public Performance Rights?
  Public Performance Rights (PPR) are the rights to screen visual media to audiences. Copyrighted films (and most films are copyrighted) are not automatically licensed for showing a film in a public space. The only legal exception to this rule is if an instructor shows a film to enrolled students in a face-to-face classroom setting. See more, Showing Films in the Classroom.
   
• When is PPR needed?
  PPR is needed if media will be shown outside of home viewing or classroom use. This includes film series, lectures, and club events. PPR generally requires that no admission be charged to see the film, and often includes specific regulations that may vary from one film distributor to another. For example, some distributors require a film with PPR to only be shown on campus or to those affiliated with the university.
   
• What happens if PPR is not obtained?
  The sponsoring group of the event can be put at legal risk, as well as the owner/renter of the media, if it were shown without the PPR license. For example, if it was a film owned or watched through the library databases, the library’s access to the database could be revoked.
   
• Does the Upstate Library purchase films with PPR?
  Because of the extra cost, the Upstate Library does not automatically purchase public performance rights for films, though we have purchased some individual titles with PPR. Also, some documentary publishers and distributors do include PPR in the purchase price. Many times if a material has PPR or selected permissions, that is in the item's record notes. Example:
  
   
• Does the Upstate Library have collections that already include PPR?
  Yes! A few of our streaming video databases include PPR as part of our institutional licensing.
  
  Please note that All databases listed except Docuseek have the stipulation that the community is welcome as long as no admission is charged. Docuseek works a little differently in the first place, so their rule is: If the community is invited PPR authorization is required.
  
  Please see the list below of key databases that include PPR permissions:

Sources used: SUNY Binghamton University and James Madison University