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    Permissions and Public Performance Rights (PPR)

    Permissions

    Seeking permissions to use copyrighted content used to be a time-intensive ordeal but email has streamlined the process in many cases, and one may receive a reply much quicker than ever before.

    Determining the Copyright Holder

    Still, there are important steps to take when seeking permissions, such as finding and verifying who the actual copyright holder may be, as it is not always the original author or creator. This is very important for content that is found online, as the authorship may be questionable.

    Asking for Permissions

    When asking for permissions, it is important to clearly state the proposed use of the content and the timeframe for the use.  If you are going to post content online or copy to distribute, you will need to state those purposes.

    Who Provides Permissions?

    The most common licensing agency for textual content is the Copyright Clearance Center; they provide permissions based upon pay-per-use. See the link below for more information about how that process works.  For films and movies, you will want first to determine who the production company is and then determine which movie licensing company controls those permissions. See the list of licensing agencies for movies below.

    When is Permission Not Necessary?

    Keep in mind that permission is not necessary if:

    • your use is within fair use or another copyright limitation;
    • the work is not protected by copyright at all; or
    • your use is within the terms of a license agreement, including, for example, a Creative Commons license from the author.

    Steps for Getting Permissions

    • Step 1: Contact the Copyright Owner
    • Step 2: Secure Permission and Write an Effective Letter
    • Step 3: Keep a Record
    • Model Permission Letters

    (Source: CC BY.  Dr. Kenneth D. Crews (formerly of Columbia University Libraries))

    Recommended Reading

    • U.S. Copyright Office –Public Copyright Catalog (1978 to present)
    • U.S. Copyright Office –Circular 22 How to investigate the copyright status of a work
    • U.S. Copyright Office –Circular 23 The Copyright Card Catalog and the Online Files of the Copyright Office (Information about researching copyrights prior to 1978)

    Resources for Identifying the Copyright Holder

    • Copyright Clearance Center – Get Permissions
    • Writers, Artists, and Their Copyright Holders (WATCH) Harry Ransom Center –The University of Texas at Austin

    Return to

    • Copyright Services
    • About Copyright Services

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    Public Performance Rights

    The right of public performance is one of the exclusive rights of a copyright holder. Public performance rights will need to be purchased for screening films outside of the face-to-face classroom unless they are in the Public Domain or otherwise not covered by a copyright. One may not assume that a film is in the Public Domain, due diligence and a good faith effort is necessary to determine the copyright status of a film. One should be able to document the copyright status and or that PPR has been purchased to be in compliance when screening films.

    Listed below are vendors who sell movies with PPR; these are mostly educational videos/DVDs.

    Movie Licensing

    • SWANK Motion Pictures Inc.
      Getting Started Guide – 6 Simple Steps to Success.
    • Criterion Pictures USA
      Bring the best of Hollywood to your Campus!

    Recommended Reading

    • Stim, Richard. Getting Permission: Copyrighted Materials Online and Off. 2001.
      UNG Libraries -Online Access
    • McDonald, Ian, and Australian Copyright Council Content Provider. Permissions & Copyright Clearances: A Practical Guide. [Publication] / Australian Copyright Council Permissions & Copyright Clearances. 2008.
      UNG Libraries -Online Access
    • Copyrights and Permissions
      Wiley Publishing
    • How Do I Find Out if a Movie Has Public Performance Rights?
      Enoch Pratt Free Library
    • Movies
      BYU copyright Licensing Office

    Resources

    • Copyright and Fair Use: Common Scenarios.
      California State University
    • TEN COMMON COPYRIGHT PERMISSION MYTHS
      By Attorney Lloyd J. Jassin

    Contact Information

    Terri Bell
    Copyright Coordinator and Digital Archivist
    706-867-2738
    terri.bell@ung.edu

    Disclaimer

    The information presented here is intended for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have legal questions, please contact the Office of General Counsel.

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