Frequently Asked Questions

A Yes. The location requires a licence regardless of who owns the content. While you may have rented, borrowed, or purchased an audiovisual program, you are only granted the right to view it for personal, private use, not to perform it in public.

A Yes. A licence is required regardless of whether an admission fee is charged. However, the Umbrella Licence covers only those situations where admission is not charged.

A Yes. Under the law, it doesn’t matter if you’re a non-profit or for-profit organization. You are required to have a public performance licence to show motion pictures and other audiovisual works.

A In most cases, the MPLC has set licence fees based on the type and size of facility. However, if the facility and/or use falls outside of these categories, the fee will be based on the nature and size of the audience and anticipated frequency of showings.

A No. The educational exemption is narrowly defined and applies to non-profit academic institutions that only utilise films in instruction, not when the program is used for entertainment purposes.

A Yes. Exhibition of audiovisual works via closed-circuit transmissions are considered public performances. Any non-advertiser supported channels or services also require a licence.

A Yes. Any location outside of the home is considered public for copyright purposes, and requires a licence.

A Yes. The facility owner can be held vicariously liable or considered a “contributory infringer”.