I'm not sure about Canada, but I know that in the U.S. this kind of practice is clearly forbidden. The law specifically states-- and this is on the warning of every VHS tape and DVD-- that the films are for use "in homes" and not for public exhibition. I think that schools are bending this law when they screen tapes and discs for classes, but as long as they don't charge for the actual screening, I suppose it's technically fair use. (Then again, they are charging for the courses, and using copyrighted materials in a for-profit forum, so perhaps this isn't such fair use after all.) I can tell you this: in the early '90s a nursing home here in Massachusetts was busted for showing VHS movies in the lounge of their clinic. I seem to recall the argument revolving around the fact that the "home" was more akin to an apartment building, and not technically a private residence in itself, and therefore showing tapes to a crowd was thus "public" exhibition. I can't remember if the nursing home was fined-- and I'd love to know what bureaucrat was mean enough to rat on a nursing home-- but I do recall the case getting some attention as a warning against non-home VHS use. Dr. Timothy Shary Assistant Professor of Screen Studies Traina Center for the Arts Clark University Worcester, MA 01610 508-793-7285 on 2/15/03 3:21 PM, Darryl Wiggers at [log in to unmask] wrote: > The following is a question that relates specifically to Canada, but I'd be > curious to hear if the situation is different elsewhere. > > First, the predicament: This week I began to suspect a planned film festival > in Canada had not received authorization to screen a number of films on its > schedule. I started by contacting the major studios in question, such as > Paramount and Fox, and worked my way down to smaller suppliers. Most had not > heard of the festival, nor gave permission to screen their films -- and > obviously hadn't sent prints. > > Near as I could figure the festival organizer was planning to show the films > via dvd and video projection (possibly even using bootleg videos) charging > about $5/film up to festival passes in the amount of $200. In one case of a > supplier I contacted, they verified a vhs screener was sent to the festival > for preview purposes, but the film was never booked. Yet it was on the > schedule. > > The suppliers I contacted immediately made "cease and desist" calls and the > titles were dropped. Meanwhile the theatre that was booked turned out not to > have properly reserved (no deposit was made for example), so the festival is > now cancelled anyway. But I have good reason to believe the chief organizer > will try to pull a similar stunt again. > > My question is: Is there a specific crime or offence for attempting such a > blatant abuse of copyrighted material (beyond the warnings posted on all > videos) that relates specifically to Canada? What are the restrictions > elsewhere? Has anyone heard of such a practice before? In particular I > wonder about those who may have travelled to this festival, booked hotel > rooms, bought tickets -- and are now out-of-pocket hundreds of dollars. > > ---- > To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L > in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask] > ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite