Insights
A surprising plot twist - Why your offer of free entertainment to the public could get you in trouble
on April 2, 2015
As written in the April 2015 Smart Business Cleveland Magazine
By, Heather M. Barnes, Partner, Brouse McDowell, LPA
Your community is sponsoring a free movie night at the local park featuring “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and you’re excited. As attendees, you and your family have little to no risk. But what if you are the company, nonprofit or person organizing this fabulous family night that will undeniably generate a great deal of good will in the community?
Potential copyright infringement is lurking in the midst if proper measures are not in place. Copyright law protects creative works such as books, music and movies, and most people know that blatant copying of a CD, MP3 file or DVD is against the law.
But copyright law does more than prevent mere copying. “The owner of a copyright enjoys many rights, including the ability to stop others from reproducing, distributing, preparing derivative works, or publicly displaying or performing a copyrighted work,” says Heather M. Barnes, a patent attorney at Brouse McDowell.
“It is the public performance right that catches many business owners, including nonprofits, off guard.”
Smart Business spoke with Barnes about what you need to know before scheduling your own free movie or music night for the public.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
By, Heather M. Barnes, Partner, Brouse McDowell, LPA
Your community is sponsoring a free movie night at the local park featuring “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and you’re excited. As attendees, you and your family have little to no risk. But what if you are the company, nonprofit or person organizing this fabulous family night that will undeniably generate a great deal of good will in the community?
Potential copyright infringement is lurking in the midst if proper measures are not in place. Copyright law protects creative works such as books, music and movies, and most people know that blatant copying of a CD, MP3 file or DVD is against the law.
But copyright law does more than prevent mere copying. “The owner of a copyright enjoys many rights, including the ability to stop others from reproducing, distributing, preparing derivative works, or publicly displaying or performing a copyrighted work,” says Heather M. Barnes, a patent attorney at Brouse McDowell.
“It is the public performance right that catches many business owners, including nonprofits, off guard.”
Smart Business spoke with Barnes about what you need to know before scheduling your own free movie or music night for the public.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
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