Isn't it illegal for a school to sell copies or school plays and events?

Question

If a school is going to charge money for parents to buy copies of school plays and graduation ceremonies, shouldn't the students be getting a cut? If they aren't, doesn't that student who cares have the right to a share?

Answer 1

If the play is under copyright, making/distributing tapes is illegal without permission from the publisher- although people do it all the time.

Graduation ceremonies aren't copyrighted and under no union rules. It's a public event and is fair game.

Answer 2

I don't believe the school should make a profit from the sales of films of these things, they should just cover costs (so more people can buy it) - but if they school DOES make a profit then they spend it on ways to improve the school; which benefit all the pupils anyway.

If the school made (say) $500 profit from selling 4000 copies then spent it on a new computer or something; which all the pupils in the school can use is that not better than giving $8 to each pupil - they can barely even buy a CD for that much.

Answer 3

Copies of school plays when sold is not a violation of the Copyright Law as long as these are not registered and the sale is related with school projects unlike when the selling is for commercial purposes.

Answer 4

It's not illegal. I doubt that the school is making much of a profit. They're probably making back their costs plus a little, too small an amount to be distributed among the entire class.

Answer 5

Yes, it is illegal due to copyrights, but the aspect you are looking at is different.
These things are fundraisers for the school and this is acknowledged by the students.

Answer 6

1. Yes
2. No