MPLC – Motion Picture Licence Motion Picture Licensing Company International DAC
This Licence applies to the showing of videos, DVDs, downloads etc. If the item is for entertainment purposes only a licence may be required. If a school is showing educational material this is exempt.
This exemption is narrowly defined and applies only for educational use where the content is shown in the classroom, as part of the curriculum course or study programme. All other school showings require a separate licence
Q: Can a school show a film as a fundraiser?
A: The event would have to be set up as a movie club – You cannot advertise it externally; no members of the Public can be invited as this would be seen as advertising. The movie club members would be the student, parents, teachers & staff of the school so only those people can be told of the event and donations can be given as part of the movie club event.
Any other public display of a film would require a license from MPLC.
ICLA – Copyright Licence Irish Copyright Licensing Agency
This is paid centrally by the Department of Education
A school only needs a TV licence if it has a TV set. A licence is not required when using whiteboards or watching a replay on a computer.
Guide to copyright licensing in schools
There are a number of copyright licences available to schools which facilitates legal access to and sharing of print, music and audio-visual content. Licenses are usually renewable annually and the cost is calculated on a per student basis.
Examples of activities requiring a licence
If you have a query that is not addressed in these FAQs, please email us at primary@fssu.ie.