Do You Need a Copyright for Streaming Movies

[CopyRight101]

Subject should say, "is streaming movies from a website legal without a license or is this copyright material?"

I have a small college website I stream 30 or so movies and TV shows from and recently I was told that I need a license to do this. They were saying there are royalties I must pay, similar to an online video rental place. These aren't the latest releases or anything, there just some of my favorite movies and a complete season of a show. If I do need a license, where can I get one. I guess if it costs a lot of money, then it's probably not worth it.

[jk]

Of course it is copyrighted material.

unless you own the copyright to the movies and television shows you are broadcasting, what you are doing is illegal. You need to obtain a license (as you have been told) to do this and yes, it will cost money. You don;t think they simply give up their rights once a show is broadcast, do you?

Don't know where to get the license but I would start with the copyright holder.

[710studio]

In the closing credits, it will usually tell you who to contact to obtain licensing arrangments. In those very same closing credits, you will see a statement saying that broadcasting the video (or TV show) in any form is illegal and will usually be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I would be very careful, if I were you, to secure a license before offering these things for download... you could find yourself in some very, very hot water owing a lot of money.

A good place to start in your pursuit of licensing would be the distributing studio (also found in closing credits).

Good luck.