26/08/09

The Bigger Picture for Coach Operators

Release to: Coach Journals
Date: August 2009
Title: The Bigger Picture for Coach Operators

Entertaining school children or a group of golf or rugby enthusiasts often involves providing top
quality, comfort and safety features, from safety belts and drinks to the latest DVD release.
Unfortunately, many coach operators are simply unaware of film copyright restrictions.
“I only use them occasionally, “said one coach driver, “our passengers prefer to look out of the
window!”

Even if you show a movie a few times a year, or just the driver watches between tours, a business
risks copyright fines of up to 127,000 euro, and/or even a prison sentence for illegal use. Home
videos and DVDs are intended for private, home use only. When shown on board a coach, or
anywhere outside of one’s home, this qualifies as a ‘public performance’ or exhibition under the
Copyright and Related Rights Act 2002. Showings are illegal unless correctly licensed.

The film industry understood that traditional ‘title by title’ licensing methods are simply too difficult
to manage and uneconomical for some industries, so the film industry created The MPLC
Umbrella Licence® as a simple low cost solution. The licence allows unlimited use of DVDs from
major Hollywood and independent producers at one low annual fee. Coaches may show their own
legally purchased or rented home DVDs and be fully compliant with the law.

“We are offering advice to all the coach industry regarding possible copyright infringement. There
is so much confusion about the high tech equipment available on board movies – we have Wifi,
hand held devices, DVDs and media server systems available, so business managers are unsure
of what they can use legally” said Geraldine Byrne, MPLC IE.

Brian Finegan, Director General of INFACT, says, “Showing and exhibiting films illegally puts
money directly into the criminal sector, supporting drug, people trafficking and other activities. By
providing a simple and economic licensing system, the MPLC are working with INFACT to fight
crime.”
Contact the MPLC for more information:
Tel : +353 656 820 368
Fax: +353 656 823 590
Email: info@mplc.ie
www.mplc.ie

OTHER DOCUMENTS

MPLC Brochure               <view here>

Operator Statement       <view here>