In accordance with federal law, RSOs must follow protocol when showing a film, documentary, or TV show.
- A Private Performance is one where you show a film/movie to a private audience (i.e., just your immediate circle of friends or family), you do not charge an admission fee, and do not advertise the event (this includes publication beyond your organization on NvolveU and social media). Events limited to just your organization or recruitment events DO NOT count as private audiences.
- A Public Performance is one where you are opening a film/movie to a group larger than your immediate family or circle of friends such as the campus or public audience, one where you are charging an admission fee, OR where you are advertising through public venues (bulletin boards, emails, and social media posts). In a public viewing, you need to obtain public viewing rights. Outdoor films/movies are always public viewings.
- A Private Location is one where the film/movie is shown in a private location (i.e., a residential space (common areas do not count), a classroom for educational purposes, etc.) Individuals passing by should not be able to view the film/movie you are showing. The Nebraska Union spaces are NOT considered Private Locations. Similarly, fraternity and sorority houses are also NOT considered Private Locations. Any event in a chapter house where media is being shown should be limited to residents, members, and immediate guests.
- A Public Location is one where the film/movie is shown in a space that has public viewing, even if the event is private/invite only. For example, a film/movie shown on Meier Commons may be gated and closed off to the public, but if the film/movie is viewable from outside the space, the location is not private. The Nebraska Union spaces are considered Public Locations.
If your event is a private viewing AND at a private location, you do not need to obtain any screening rights. Both audience and location must qualify as private. If either is public, you must obtain the rights.
Screening rights have various costs and are based on a film’s release date (new films are more expensive) and popularity (films in high demand also tend to have higher rates). You will need to include these costs in your event budgeting.
UNL has a partnership with SWANK Motion Pictures which is the primary movie licensure company for colleges and universities. It is the responsibility of the RSO to obtain all respective rights. UNL’s contact at SWANK is Fred Coudret, who can be contacted at fcoudret@swankmp.com. He will be able to share availability and pricing.
If your film/media is outside the SWANK catalog, please contact Karen Wills at kwills2@unl.edu for help on where to secure respective rights. Please note that licensure applies to streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.
It is very important that RSOs are complying with federal law and obtain proper licensure. The penalty for non-compliance includes a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to five years in prison. If you are unsure about your licensure needs, please ask.