VIDEOLIB Archive: Re: [Videolib] What about lowering Public Performance Rights

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Joel,
We have a closed circuit cable system that feeds most classrooms on =
campus and our media library carrels, no dorms, offices, etc. Faculty =
who want us to play a program over this system for their classes or =
individual patrons who request to view our materials in-house =
(especially those with class assignments who show up in multiples the =
night before an assignment is due) benefit from our having PPR on most =
of our educational materials. We don't circulate our video materials to =
students, and I don't make our materials available for campus showings =
that are not classroom related. I don't attempt licensing PPR, even as =
limited as our public performance activity is, on feature films from the =
major studios. Anytime I find a source that is willing/able to support =
educational activities at no extra charge, I am delighted and very =
appreciative. However, I realize that some producers/distributors want =
to be compensated for the "large number" of viewers in an educational =
setting. I've come across a few distributors whose PPR fees approach =
usury. I buy from these only if the requesting faculty member is =
absolutely insistent that no other title will suffice. Of the options =
you propose, no additional fee would be great, but I'll agree with Gary =
that a flat $25 fee is acceptable.=20
Thanks for asking,
Gail B. Fedak
Manager, Instructional Media Resources
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
phone 615-898-2740
fax 615-898-2530
email gfedak@mtsu.edu

----- Original Message -----=20
From: Gary Handman=20
To: joel@microcinema.com ; videolib@library.berkeley.edu=20
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Videolib] What about lowering Public Performance Rights =
licenses?

I think that for libraries that DO need PPRs, taking on a flat $25 is =
EXTREMELY reasonable.

I would like to hear your honest opinion/feedback about a topic =
which=20
is very relevant to all of us: Public Performance Rights license =
fees.

We launched our Blackchair DVD Collection in mid December. We =
service=20
direct to consumer and retail, but we also are gaining a very strong =

We distribute FOUR titles on DVD where the Retail price and the PPR=20
price are exactly the same ($25-$30 depending on the title). This=20
pricing structure was demanded by the producers of the DVD's who=20
intentionally wanted to keep the price fair so the works could be=20
accessible across the board.

Furthermore, we have a couple of titles with a PPR of $50, only $20=20
over the SRP.

finally, we have a few titles with a PPR of around $60-$75 or =
$30-$50=20
over SRP.

Here's what we are seeing - there has been a HUGE (!) rush by=20
educators/librarians to buy the low priced titles. The second most=20
popular purchases are the ones that around $50 and the third most=20
popular are those around the $75 range.

So we are experiencing a very obvious trend here, and it has got us=20
wondering if we should be talking to all of our producers/labels =
about=20
LOWERING their pricing, and/or putting a cap on their PPR pricing.

Three possible scenarios:
1. keep PPR and SRP the same.
2. Whatever the SRP, add on a flat $25 for PPR license
3. Similar to #2, whatever the SRP, simply bump the PPR up to a =
$50.00=20
cap.

I would very much like to hear your honest input about this because =
I=20
am also hearing from librarians who are buying our lower priced=20
product a great sigh of relief and a big THANK YOU for offering =
titles=20
at an affordable rate.

Joel S. Bachar, Founder
Microcinema International
531 Utah Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
415-864-0660
www.microcinema.com

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We have a closed circuit cable system = that feeds=20 most classrooms on campus and our media library carrels, no dorms, = offices, etc.=20 Faculty who want us to play a program over this system for their classes = or=20 individual patrons who request to view our materials in-house = (especially=20 those with class assignments who show up in multiples the night = before an=20 assignment is due) benefit from our having PPR on most of our = educational=20 materials. We don't circulate our video materials to students, and I = don't make=20 our materials available for campus showings that are not classroom = related. I=20 don't attempt licensing PPR, even as limited as our public performance = activity=20 is, on feature films from the major studios. Anytime I find a source = that is=20 willing/able to support educational activities at no extra charge, I am=20 delighted and very appreciative. However, I realize that some=20 producers/distributors want to be compensated for the "large = number"=20 of viewers in an educational setting. I've come across a few = distributors whose=20 PPR fees approach usury. I buy from these only if the requesting faculty = member=20 is absolutely insistent that no other title will suffice. Of the options = you=20 propose, no additional fee would be great, but I'll agree with Gary = that a=20 flat $25 fee is acceptable.