As an organizer of a commercial event, I plan to play multiple copyrighted musical works and movies at a large public event. What should I do if it is impossible for me to obtain authorization from their respective owners in advance?
As an organizer of a commercial event, I plan to play multiple copyrighted musical works and movies at a large public event. What should I do if it is impossible for me to obtain authorization from their respective owners in advance?
user
If you cannot obtain permission to play copyrighted works at your commercial event, you will need to do one of two things: make sure that all the copyright owners’ legal rights and interests are adequately protected by bringing in additional legal counsel, such as adding disclaimers or attribution lines to any displays or broadcasts related to the work or obtaining statutory licenses under the U.S. Copyright Law for certain performances;  OR alternatively use works for which either (a) no relevant monetary compensation is required due to its being “obscure” and “insignificant”, or (b) you have obtained an applicable license from a performance rights organization. In any case, it is strongly recommended that you consult an experienced entertainment attorney before implementing any plan.
assistant
As an organizer of a commercial event, I plan to play multiple copyrighted musical works and movies at a large public event. What should I do if it is impossible for me to obtain authorization from their respective owners in advance?
user
If you are unable to obtain written permission from the copyright owners of the musical works and movies in advance, you should consult with a qualified intellectual property attorney to review your situation. Generally speaking, when a public performance of music and movies is performed without authorization or permission from the copyright holder, it could result in liability for copyright infringement. If this is the case, an attorney can provide additional advice on how to proceed.
assistant