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SecretSeven · 03-09-2009, 01:56 AM

I'd like to rent a building and have a huge screen, and charge people to come and watch dvds, movies and tv on the screen. Is this illegal?

SchoolisHard · 03-09-2009, 03:15 AM

I think what you are referring to is known as a movie theater. I've seen quite a few of these

.

Plays With Life · 03-09-2009, 05:40 AM

In the U.S., this is illegal, and strictly so. It should be in the FBI warning at the beginning of every DVD, I think. Something about "home exposition only".

Plays With Life · 03-09-2009, 05:42 AM

Although - maybe showing TV is allowed? I'm thinking of bars that show the games, or have a TV running all the time. It may depend on whether you're charging specifically for the viewing, or the viewing is just an incidental benefit of patronizing the business (the TV isn't a service that's sold, it just happens to be on in the area).

lifeofyourdreams · 03-09-2009, 05:54 AM

Who would your audience and customers be? Your friends? Family?

Would you have continuous viewings every weekend? Every day? I have heard that there are businesses where you can go and play xbox or playstation for an afternoon at different tvs, and have parties there.

Brutha · 03-09-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Although - maybe showing TV is allowed? I'm thinking of bars that show the games, or have a TV running all the time.

Those bars might very well pay some licensing fees to be able to run TV.

If you pay licensing fees to the people who own the copyright you can show something in public.

Different countries have different rules as to what you are allowed to do with intellectual property.

Vanessa · 03-10-2009, 11:01 PM

In the US it's not illegal to show movies like this IF you do it legally, by paying the right licensing fees.

Most DVDs purchased are for home use only and are not allowed to be used for a public or group showing, or even a paid showing without the studio getting their licencing fees. You've got to ask permission, schedule it and pay the fee. then its perfectly legal. in the states anyway. and they are not cheap either,

I used to set showings up like these in college. There are a few distributors in the US that have the information you'd need and forms to fill out to get this going.

03-09-2009, 01:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
SecretSeven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 237	Can I do this? I'd like to rent a building and have a huge screen, and charge people to come and watch dvds, movies and tv on the screen. Is this illegal?

03-10-2009, 11:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vanessa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 194	You can do it legally but not for free. In the US it's not illegal to show movies like this IF you do it legally, by paying the right licensing fees. Most DVDs purchased are for home use only and are not allowed to be used for a public or group showing, or even a paid showing without the studio getting their licencing fees. You've got to ask permission, schedule it and pay the fee. then its perfectly legal. in the states anyway. and they are not cheap either, I used to set showings up like these in college. There are a few distributors in the US that have the information you'd need and forms to fill out to get this going.

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03-09-2009, 03:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
SchoolisHard Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 57	I think what you are referring to is known as a movie theater. I've seen quite a few of these .

03-09-2009, 05:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Plays With Life Family Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sitting by the fire at the Inn of the Last Home Posts: 5,799	In the U.S., this is illegal, and strictly so. It should be in the FBI warning at the beginning of every DVD, I think. Something about "home exposition only".

03-09-2009, 05:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Plays With Life Family Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sitting by the fire at the Inn of the Last Home Posts: 5,799	Although - maybe showing TV is allowed? I'm thinking of bars that show the games, or have a TV running all the time. It may depend on whether you're charging specifically for the viewing, or the viewing is just an incidental benefit of patronizing the business (the TV isn't a service that's sold, it just happens to be on in the area).

03-09-2009, 05:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
lifeofyourdreams Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2	Who would your audience and customers be? Your friends? Family? Would you have continuous viewings every weekend? Every day? I have heard that there are businesses where you can go and play xbox or playstation for an afternoon at different tvs, and have parties there.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums