Streaming Media Collections

What are Public Performance Rights?

Public Performance Rights (PPR) are the legal rights to publicly show a film or video (media). Normally the media producer or distributor manages these rights. The rights-holder (or their designate) can assign PPR to others through a Public Performance License. It is considered a public performance if any of the following are true:

• The screening is open to the public
• The screening is in a public space (dorm lounge, library, auditorium, etc.)
• Access is not restricted 
• Persons attending are outside normal constituency (visitors to campus)

Showing media, whether borrowed from the library or rented, purchased, or streamed, to groups outside of the classroom may be illegal, and may place the University at legal risk.

When are Public Performance Rights Required? 

PPR are required if you are screening copyrighted media to audiences for purposes that fall outside regular curriculum-based instruction. These include:

• Student organization events (e.g. movie night)
• Meetings, programs, or other events on campus
• Film series/festivals

PPR are not required for:

• Home viewing

• Screening media in the context of face-to-face teaching in the service of regular curricula.

  • ​See: Title 17 of the United States Code, Chapter 1, Section 110 (Page 24).

Some physical media items, including DVDs and streaming, in the DML collection do have PPR, please inquire.

The following platforms have select films with PPR licensing available.

• Swank College Campus Items will require acquiring PPR for all titles on their platform, independent of the streaming access the library provides.
• Kanopy has some titles that include PPR when a license is purchased. If PPR is available for a title, it will be designated on the film's webpage. Note:

”Kanopy videos can be watched by any and all authorized viewers, whether in a group or individual viewing context. Viewing films in a group forum is permitted for all films for classroom viewings, and most films for non-classroom group settings as long as the viewing is by authorized viewers and it is not for commercial benefit (i.e. no admission costs are charged and no profit is made from the screening)”