Is using disney music and characters in an elementary play breaking copyright laws?

Question

My elementary school is planning a play "The Lion King" using music from the broadway play. We will not be charging any money for the play. Do we need to apply for rights or permission from Disney? If so, how or where would we do this at?

What if I used a "Lion King Karaoke" CD for the production?

Answer 1

Yes, you need to apply for rights. Music Theatre International (www.mtishows.com) holds most of the Disney theater rights, including versions of some of their films written especially for Kids. I do not see "The Lion King" as being available at this time.

Answer 2

Disney is not going to give you the rights to do this for two reasons. One, you're doing your own thing with their music--not gonna fly. They will only rent you the rights and the scripts if you agree to do the full version or an approved cutting.

Two, Lion King is currently touring, and therefore they're not going to allow other productions. Some publishers allow multiple productions near each other, but Disney is very strict about this.

ANYTIME you use another writer's/composer's/publisher's/company's work, you will have to pay royalties and buy or rent scripts. Sorry to tell you this after you've already made your plans, but better you know it now than after you're well into production. This is how artists make money. The exception would be if you are using the work in a classroom setting with NO audience--this is considered "educational purpose use" of a work of art, and is admissible under copyright law. Whether or not you charge admission is irrelevant--if someone is watching you perform, even another class down the hallway, you must pay.

Disney is not the company you want to tangle with, either--they are in the right, they have the time and the lawyers to prosecute, and they've done it before. DON'T DO IT! Better to have disappointed kids on your hands than to run into major legal trouble later on.

Sorry--that can't be answer you were hoping to hear. It is, however, the ethical and legal thing to do.

Answer 3

Play Disney Music

Answer 4

I am a published playwright and yes, it is absolutely against the law to perform ANYTHING that is copyrighted without the expressed written consent of the author(s).
Is does not matter that you will not profit, the point is the writers need to compensated for their work. Disney is especially hard about this. Even if you don't use the songs, you can't even use the "Lion King" concept in a different script without permission. DIsney should have a website where their version of the stage play is available to rent for royalties. Since you won't be charging for admission, the royalty might be less. There may also be scaled down versions for younger and or smaller casts.
Please look into this before continuing with the play.
WR Garrity

Answer 5

I've dealt with the Disney organization on obtaining performance rights, and I can assure you that they are strict. As some ofthe other commentators suggested, don't try and do anything without their permission--it's absolutely worth the call to the organization to find out about performance rights, etc., even though it's an elementary school production without attendance charges.

One last note--there's a big difference between doing it and not being caught doing it. Yes, chances are that you would not get caught doing the performance without permission, but you are still breaking the copyright laws.

Answer 6

Yes.

Disney has taken a strong stand on this. They recently took action against a college in Australia that was doing this.

Given that you're not charging, you're not likely to get in too much trouble. However, wouldn't it be a drag if Disney came in and told the kids they could do the show, at the last minute?

What you are doing is, according to the law, stealing someone else's work. It may not seem fair to say that, but that's what the law says.

So, if you want to avoid any questions, you can contact Disney. Stress that you are not charging money and that you will put "Not affiliated with Disney" on everything related to the show.

Contact Disney corporate for more information.

If you want to take your chances, put "This show is not authorized by the Walt Disney Company" on everything.

Answer 7

1) Elizabeth Alice 1) Atticus Bran 2) Amelia Eleanor 2) Richard Andy 3) Juliet Portia 3) Octavius Adam

Answer 8

Yes - what you're doing is ILLEGAL, even if you aren't making money from it. Here's an article about copyrights that you may want to read:
http://www.angelfire.com/or/Copyright4Producers/


Disney is not currently granting performance rights for amateur productions of "The Lion King", and it is illegal to use the music in another play.

Answer 9

If you aren't charging money, I think you will be OK. You otherwise would have to send a request in writing to Disney's Legal department. Here is an email I received on the subject:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

All requests to use material which are copyrighted by The Walt Disney
Company (e.g. photos, logos, characters, etc.) must be directed, in
writing, to the following address:

Walt Disney World Legal Department
Attn: Requests
Post Office Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000

Due to the volume of third-party requests that we receive and in view
of
the consideration process that these requests are subject to, please
know that it may take up to eight weeks for a response to be provided.
As such, any requests that are received indicating the need for an
immediate response are automatically declined and returned to the
sender. We appreciate your understanding.

We hope this information is helpful, and we look forward to future
opportunities to entertain you.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number
if
applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Maria Rine
WDW Online Communications

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your visit.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Our school just did a musical...101 Dalmations. We leased rights to Disney music and images through Disney. I think they charged us $800. I don't know the specifics though.

We did not charge admission or make any money from it either.