Are public performance rights for DVDs transferable?

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• December 4, 2019 @ 8:42amCEbert2 says:

  I have a librarian who wants to show a documentary for a program.  A member of the community donated the DVD to us. They bought the publc performance rights to the film.  Can we legally show the donated film?
• December 4, 2019 @ 8:56amcmyers8 says:

  Often public performance rights aren't transferable. To be sure, it would be helpful if you could review the contract the donor signed at the time he or she acquired the film. You can still consider exceptions found in US copyright law such as fair use (Section 107) for your library's screening of the film, however if it is open to the public you may have to get a public performance license for it. I'd suggest you reach out to the distributor who sells the film and see if they may be willing to grant your library public performance rights for the film or, if you plan on screening it more than once, if they'd be willing to see you the rights for a reasonable price.

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