Regarding the rights to show a prerecorded videocassette or a laserdisc in a classroom, Lincoln Stewart writes that public performance rights are not included in the sale of a prerecorded videocassette or laserdisc. That is correct, and I did not indicate otherwise. However, the point of Sect. 110 of the Copyright law, the Educators' EXEMPTION, is to define when public performance rights are at stake and when an educator may have an exemption to those rights. The educator does NOT have public performance rights but does have face-to-face, classroom rights which supercede the intellectual property rights of the copyright holder. A teacher who showed a prerecorded videocassette to a public gathering (even free) would be violating public performance rights. But an educator who shows a prerecorded (purchased) videocassette in a classroom situation, face-to-face (not over cable to multiple places), with only students present has the right because of the educators' exemption (sect 110 of the copyright law). Miller's passage regarding "displays . . . must be made from legitimate copies, including prerecorded videocassettes" does NOT mean that one can make a vhs copy of a laserdisc and show it in a classroom. What it means (see the whole original passage) is that the prerecorded videocassette must be an authorized (legitimate) copy in terms of rights: i.e, a company that owns the rights to the 35mm film CITIZEN KANE can make a legitimate copy in the medium of the laserdisk or vhs tape. That legitimate copy, purchased OR RENTED by the educator, can be displayed in a classroom, if the educator follows the rules: face-to-face, students only, etc. I hope this clears this up. These issues and definitions of the educators' exemption are very clear in the copyright law while other issues are not discussed or potentially available for testing in the courts. Stewart's remarks about renting software might be interesting test case, and this might possible if the educator only used the software during class. Since US copyright law is currently being revised to deal with, among other problems, the arrival of the information highway, this specific case might be covered in the new law. I think it is very important to follow the law. One can disagree with the law and work to change the law, of course. Thankfully, if one follows the rules, one can, according to the US copyright law, legally show purchased or rented videotapes and laserdiscs in classrooms. Janet Staiger Janet Staiger Professor of Radio-Television-Film Director, College of Communications Senior Fellows Program University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712 USA 512-741-6653 (office) 512-329-5104 (home) 512-329-5144 (home fax) [log in to unmask] ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]