Can a Church Show a Movie for Free? (cont.)
5. I can hang up a sheet and use a PA system and projector to show the movie in the church yard. After all, that’s on church property.
The CVLI specifically says you can screen movies in its facilities. I asked a CVLI rep to clarify “in facilities.” The answer? You’d most likely be within the spirit of the agreement if you screen the movie outdoors only if the area is secluded. No chance can exist of the general public seeing or hearing any portion of the movie.
6. Because I’m not charging a fee, showing the movie inside my church, and have the CVLI, I can advertise the event in any way.
In case you missed reading point 4 of the CVLI terms, “No specific titles, or any characters from such titles, or producers’ names will be advertised or publicized to the general public unless authorized by certain producers.”
Next Steps for Copyright Compliance
- Make sure your church has a current CVLI.
- Determine if your CVLI covers a particular movie. Obtain the proper license for films that aren’t covered.
- The license restricts showings to a physical location. So show movies only at church youth ministry events or at a camp location that has its own license.
- Invite a few students to your house. There you can show a movie inside without any advertising of any sort through the church.
It’s possible to still do a movie event for the public. You’ll need to procure a license from mplc.org and follow their guidelines.
I hope this clears up confusion about can a church show a movie for free. I’m a youth pastor, not a copyright lawyer. So I’m not giving legal advice, just some pointers.
If you have questions, chat with your church’s attorney. Or contact a lawyer who specializes in copyright laws. This subject is very detailed, which you noticed if you checked out copyright.gov.
