[LAW-LIB:54709] Screenplay rights

From: Bryan Carson (bryan.carson@wku.edu)
Date: Mon Feb 11 2008 - 15:15:21 PST

  • Next message: Ryan, Robert S.: "[LAW-LIB:54710] RE: Screenplay rights"

    Folks,

    I have a question that I'm not sure how to answer. It seems that someone wants to perform scenes from current feature films. They don't want to actually perform the films themselves, but rather actors would learn the scripts and perform them publicly.

    To my mind, this is more like performing a play than performing a film. The performers would need to obtain public performance rights for the screenplay. However, I'm not sure where to send the library client. Rights organizations such as Dramatists Play Service, Baker's Plays, and Samuel French represent theatrical plays, not screenplays. Groups such as Swank/Movie Licensing USA and Motion Picture Licensing Corporation represent the finished films but not the screenplays.

    Does anyone know where I would send the library client to find rights information on screenplays?

    Thank you very much.

    --Bryan M. Carson

    -- 
    Bryan M. Carson, J.D., M.I.L.S.
    Associate Professor/Coordinator of Reference & Instructional Services
    Western Kentucky University Libraries
    Author, "The Law of Libraries and Archives" (Scarecrow Press)
    Ed.D Student, Higher Ed. Leadership & Policy, Vanderbilt University
    
    1906 College Heights Blvd. #11067
    Bowling Green, Kentucky  42101-1067
    Phone: 270-745-5007; Fax: 270-745-2275
    bryan.carson@wku.edu
    
    All original content copyright 2008 Bryan M. Carson



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Feb 11 2008 - 15:18:22 PST