A friend of mine works at a restaurant and is considering showing movies on certain evenings. Does anyone know the laws surrounding this? Is it legal if it's on TV? Can he just not advertise the name of the film and/or fact that he's showing it? thanks!
I don't know about the TV, but otherwise they owe some royalty somewhere. Pop in any DVD you own and you'll see something that says "This DVD not for public broadcast, yada yada yada...." Realistically, they could probably show movies forever and not get caught, but no, it's not entirely legit. That's why restaurants/bars have significantly higher cable/satellite bills.
I'm pretty sure that Nico is right. This makes me wonder how much one of the local rock clubs has to shell out for occasionally showing a DVD containing old Bettie Page shorts.
I was a concert promoter for about four years and had to fill out my share of royalty reports to BMI & ASCAP. These copyright owners will do everything in their power to squeeze a buck out of you. For example, you have to pay for the right to use sheet music in concert that you've paid for.
you'll need the expressed written consent of Major League Baseball. or the implied oral consent of the National Basketball Association.
I bet the film industry does something similar to this... ASCAP or someone sends out people to bars to check on the music playing to see what royalties establishments owe. Interestingly enough, I was speaking to someone who does this recently (a friend of Billq of the Fire forum). He said that they were looking to hire new people who have a good knowledge of Latin/Spanish music. So they're looking to stay on top of things.
Okay, as a former bar owner I can share what I know. We also used to do movie night. Basically we found that as long as we don't advertise the viewing and don't charge admission (the most important 'if') then basically all you have to do is make sure your ASCAP is paid up. They're the only ones that matter. Actually, what a lot of people don't know is that you actually have to pay ASCAP even if you never play music or have bands or even have a jukebox. UNLESS you can convince ASCAP that you never turn the volume up on the TV. Because what they get you one - every time - is the commercials on television. Most people don't think about that. But if you're paying your ASCAP fee and don't advertise or charge admission, then showing a movie is no problem. But I recommend that if you have a restaurant (as opposed to bar only) and you allow children in the place, then don't show R rated movies before 9:00. You basically leave yourself open to a whole lot of lawsuits if you play R rated movies while children are present. It's stupid, but it can happen.
Likewise, you have to pay ASCAP if you have all original bands at your bar. The reason? The occasional cover song thrown in there.
right, my pal owns a punk/metal bar here in town and always has horror movies on the two TVs. His ASCAP payment takes care of it.
On the othr side of the coin ASCAP has my back which is why I'm rollin' large with the $38.74 they just sent me. Membership has its priveledges. I'll be in the back with the Crystal. Crystal Light that is.
We had this 80 year old piano player at the restaurant. This guy came one day and started requesting all kinds of songs. Then, he followed to say that he was from ASCAP. I told him to fvck off and I never from ASCAP again. If you people want to pay a mafia, go ahead.
That's a little easier to get away with that what I was dealing with. Try printing 3,000 programs with what the Moscow Philharmonic is playing and try to deny that.