2008 Woodie Awards
Copyright violations prompt change
Officials examine policy governing on-campus movie screenings, rating restrictions
Josh Smith
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: News
University officials are considering changes to SUU's Student Services procedure governing the screening of films on campus.
Vice President of Student Services Donna Eddleman cited examples of copyright violations by various groups and organizations on campus, including the university itself.
The latest incident involved the SUU Cinematheque Club and its attempt to show the film Snatch, said the club's advisor Robert Ogie, Student Support Center administrative secretary.
"We screened two films this semester, on the third we got busted," he said.
Ogie said he did not know the club was violating any laws until he received an e-mail from Student Involvement & Leadership Office Manager Deniece Allred on Sept. 19 asking him to cancel the showing of Snatch.
In the e-mail, Allred also informed Ogie that all further movie screenings were suspended until further notice.
In a Sept. 24 SUUSA Executive Council meeting, Eddleman said SUU has been violating federal copyright laws by allowing clubs and organizations to show films on campus without obtaining proper permission or fulfilling specific criteria for educational screenings.
Some individual students had been renting movies and showing them at the theatre in the Sharwan Smith Center, also in violation of copyright laws, she said.
In a draft proposal distributed to members of student government, university officials and relevant club leaders, Eddleman laid out her plans for clarifying and updating a procedure for film screenings.
The procedure will only affect clubs, organizations and individual students under Student Services, not instructors and their classes, Eddleman said.
It is illegal to publicly show movies and other copyrighted materials without permission from the copyright owners, she said.
Buying the right to show a film publicly can be pricey, with a license to show a film costing up to $700 to $1,000, Ogie said
Copyrighted materials may be shown without a license for educational purposes under specific circumstances, according to the proposed procedure.
Vice President of Student Services Donna Eddleman cited examples of copyright violations by various groups and organizations on campus, including the university itself.
The latest incident involved the SUU Cinematheque Club and its attempt to show the film Snatch, said the club's advisor Robert Ogie, Student Support Center administrative secretary.
"We screened two films this semester, on the third we got busted," he said.
Ogie said he did not know the club was violating any laws until he received an e-mail from Student Involvement & Leadership Office Manager Deniece Allred on Sept. 19 asking him to cancel the showing of Snatch.
In the e-mail, Allred also informed Ogie that all further movie screenings were suspended until further notice.
In a Sept. 24 SUUSA Executive Council meeting, Eddleman said SUU has been violating federal copyright laws by allowing clubs and organizations to show films on campus without obtaining proper permission or fulfilling specific criteria for educational screenings.
Some individual students had been renting movies and showing them at the theatre in the Sharwan Smith Center, also in violation of copyright laws, she said.
In a draft proposal distributed to members of student government, university officials and relevant club leaders, Eddleman laid out her plans for clarifying and updating a procedure for film screenings.
The procedure will only affect clubs, organizations and individual students under Student Services, not instructors and their classes, Eddleman said.
It is illegal to publicly show movies and other copyrighted materials without permission from the copyright owners, she said.
Buying the right to show a film publicly can be pricey, with a license to show a film costing up to $700 to $1,000, Ogie said
Copyrighted materials may be shown without a license for educational purposes under specific circumstances, according to the proposed procedure.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jeffrey
posted 10/24/07 @ 8:04 AM MST
The copyright policy - which is not SUU's fault - is absolutely illogical.
It's not as if any profit or gain is coming from the showing of the films. (Continued…)
Pirate Party of Utah
Pirate Party of Utah
posted 10/26/07 @ 6:30 PM MST
Couldn't agree with you more, Jeffrey.
It's why we started our political party.
Just FYI, there was an opinion/editorial posted as a follow-up to this. (Continued…)
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