Films, documentaries, and TV shows. Some include Public Performance Rights (PPR).
Educational video collection. Includes Public Performance Rights (PPR).
Current and hard-to-find films, including blockbusters, classics, foreign films, and more.
Public Performance Rights (PPR) — Know your Rights
What are Public Performance Rights?
PPR are the legal rights to publicly show a film or video (media).
Do I Need Performance Rights?
Yes ✔
- If the screening is open to the public
- If the screening is in a public space
- If the people attending are outside of your typical circle of family and acquaintances, such as showing a film to a club or student organization, or showing a film for a class but inviting others to attend
No ✘
- If an instructor is showing the film to officially registered students in a face-to-face classroom, where the content of the film directly relates to the course*
- If you are privately viewing the film for personal use
*See Title 17, Section 110 of the US Code for more information on the face-to-face teaching exemption.
Find Public Performance Rights in Kanopy!
You can find videos with PPR on the Kanopy website by applying the “PPR Available” filter to search results.
Films with public performance rights will also have a “PPR” icon next to the runtime on the details page.
If you aren’t sure if a film includes PPR, or you want to find out about securing permission to show a film, contact the library at libraryref@otc.edu.
Recommended Reading:
Copyright Law of the United States — Learn more about copyright law in the U.S. with the full Title 17 document from the U.S. Copyright Office
How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work — General guidance on what to look for when you are determining the status of a copyrighted work, provided by The U.S. Copyright Office.
Public Performing Rights — FAQ about PPR provided by Enoch Pratt Free Library
Copyright Catalogs:
Public Copyright Catalog — Search the digital database of the U.S. Copyright Office to find copyright information on works made prior to 1978