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The legal way to show movies and TV in a public or commercial space.

If you are showing TV programs or movies in a public space, then you need a Public Performance License on top of your TV License or TV subscription. This applies to shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, clubs, dentist offices, car showrooms, and even semi-public spaces like membership clubs, employee break rooms, or gyms.

Who is MPLC?

MPLC has represented Hollywood studios like Disney, Universal, Paramount, Pixar, Marvel Studios, and DreamWorks Animation for over 35 years. These studios and many more, have appointed MPLC to collect license revenue from non-theatrical venues – places that show movies and TV in public spaces but are not traditional cinemas. MPLC is now the largest non-theatrical TV and movie licensing company in the world.

Founded in 1985 by a former vice-president of Paramount Pictures and MGM, MPLC now has offices in 28 countries with our headquarters split between the UK and USA. Our UK home is in Eastbourne Sussex, while in the USA we are located in Los Angeles, next to many of the Hollywood studios that we represent.

About 150 people work for MPLC, most of them dedicating their time to helping businesses and organizations understand the Copyright Act and the need for a Public Performance License, and then working with them to quickly become legally compliant by making the licensing process easy and affordable.

What is a Public Performance License?

Copyright law makes a distinction between “private performance” (e.g., home viewing) and “public performance”. Public performance is where a movie or TV program is shown in a place where members of the public could see it outside of their own home.

This includes bars and restaurants, hotel rooms, offices, businesses, car dealerships, dental offices, doctor’s waiting rooms, staff areas, community venues, and even members-only places and clubs. An MPLC Public Performance License is easily obtainable and affordable, quickly granting you the rights to show TV programs, news, and movie content to your employees, customers, members, or staff. The Hollywood studios and other global studios that created the TV and movie programs get paid from the license revenue that we collect for them, which supports thousands of jobs and ongoing creativity.

Who needs a license?

According to the Copyright Act, found at Title 17 of the United States Code, almost any business or organization with a TV screen showing movies, news, or TV programs in a public space will need a license. It doesn’t matter how you obtain your programs – whether through DVD, Blu-ray, download, streaming, broadcast, cable, or satellite television – what matters is that the program itself needs to be licensed.

We understand that this might be new information for you, but rest assured, MPLC provides the required license and has streamlined the process of acquiring one to be quick, easy, and affordable.

By obtaining a license, you are helping your business stay compliant with U.S. federal law, and this significantly reduces your business’s risk.

Meet our Senior Team

Rory Shedden

CEO

Mark Brownlie

CFO

Brian Novy

SVP, Licensing US

David Taylor

Managing Director MPLC UK

Clare Goodrham

VP International

Roger Pollock

SVP, Global Head of Studio Relations

Ron Wheeler

Head of Business & Legal Affairs

Osarumen Obasohan

Head of Sales Operations

Glenn Elliott

Chair

Supporting content creators

At MPLC, we’re passionate about supporting the entertainment industry and helping to fund great content. Great content is only possible if creators are paid for the content they produce, so we collect royalties on behalf of our rights holders and ensure that they are paid for their work.

And the studios we represent

For over 35 years, we have partnered and established strong relationships with the most recognized and prestigious Hollywood studios, as well as hundreds of independent producers and content creators worldwide. These rightsholders trust us to collect the royalties they are entitled to, and to be a respectful guardian of their works. They trust us to be an extension of their brand.

"MPLC has represented Universal Pictures public performance rights for decades. Their licensing and compliance initiatives provide financial support for the premium films and TV series that we produce, and for the jobs that rely on them. Universal values MPLC as a trusted partner.”

Jeff Greenspun

EVP Theatrical Distribution Operations, Universal Pictures

“For over 30 years, Warner Bros. has trusted MPLC to represent its blanket licensing rights around the world. As the way we access film and television content continues to evolve, MPLC has remained a constant in its support of intellectual property and content creators.”

Andrew Cripps

President International Distribution - Warner Bros. Pictures

"Discovery enjoys a fantastic working relationship with MPLC. Their Public Performance License and compliance initiatives provide essential distribution support and help drive revenue growth, allowing us to focus on producing the premium TV series and programming beloved by audiences around the world.”

Elliot Wagner

SVP Global Strategy - Discovery

“MPLC is a long-time, trusted partner that Lionsgate relies upon for audiovisual public performance copyright compliance. Lionsgate’s disciplined approach to producing premium content requires that we ensure that all uses of the studio’s deep catalog of intellectual property are properly licensed. MPLC is an important piece of that equation.”

Brian Day

SVP Global Strategy - Lionsgate

Your questions answered

We’re here for you…

We show movies, TV, and other audiovisual content via DVD, Blu-Ray, download, stream, over-the-air broadcast, cable, or satellite TV. Do we still need a license to view or show it in public?

The content obtained in all those ways is meant for personal, private use only and is not meant for showing in public without permission from the rightsholder. A Public Performance License may be needed when MPLC’s rights holders’ content is shown in public.…

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I already have a cable or satellite business package. Do I also need a Blanket License Public Performance License?

You do if you want a low-cost way to limit the risk of copyright infringement lawsuits from rightsholders of unlicensed programming included in these packages. That’s because your cable or satellite business package almost certainly does not protect you against such claims. As far as we are aware, n…

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We do not charge an admission fee or cover charge. Do we still need a Public Performance License?

A license may be required regardless of whether an admission fee is charged. In fact, the Public Performance License only covers situations where admission is not charged.…

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We are a nonprofit organization. Do we still need a Public Performance License?

Yes. The U.S. Copyright Act applies equally to nonprofit and for-profit organizations.…

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How does the MPLC Public Performance License for TV and movies work in practice?

MPLC Public Performance Licenses are very affordable, easy to buy and can be in place immediately. You pay us a simple, affordable annual fee based on the type and size of your site, location, or business. You do not need to report to us, or anyone else, which TV or that you show. You are free to …

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We are not open to the public. Do we still need a Public Performance License?

Yes. Any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered including, but not limited to, clubs, lodges, factories, summer camps and schools, requires a public performance license to show audiovisual content to its members or …

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Who else has an MPLC license? Do any of them also have cable/satellite business TV channel packages?

MPLC has been in business for over 35 years and has provided licenses to tens of thousands of businesses, government entities and non-profit organizations across the US and in 33 other countries around the world. MPLC’s US licensees include well-known restaurant chains; major hotel brands; healthcar…

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We rent out our facility to other groups. Can we be liable for copyright infringement?

Yes. You may be held contributorily or vicariously liable for the copyright infringement if you have a financial interest in the activity and/or make your facility available for a public performance.…

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How much does the license cost?

MPLC determines license fees based on the type of facility and intended license use. We strive to provide simple and affordable license solutions.…

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Our Partners

MPLC works closely with leading institutions to support intellectual property rights. Along with our partners, we educate businesses and organizations about copyright law and the importance of compliance.