WILKES UNIVERSITY

Students, staff and faculty must be approved drivers to operate any University vehicle
(refer to regulations kept at Public Safety). A list of all passengers traveling in each van
must be maintained in the log at the Office of Public Safety.
Use of Wilkes University shuttles must be approved by the Director of Public Safety. All
shuttle drivers must have a CDL license. Any use of the shuttles without a CDL operator
is prohibited.
Public Performances of Film and Electronic Media
Contact: Phil Ruthkosky, Ph.D., Associate Dean
Wilkes University proactively supports copyright protections and advises the campus
community to become familiar with the salient provisions of the copyright laws.
According to the Federal Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code), it is illegal to
show any commercial film or television show in a public setting without a license, unless
such works are public domain. A public setting is defined as “any place where a
substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social
acquaintances are gathered” (section 101). This rule applies even if the showing is: a)
educational in nature, b) free of admission, or c) limited to a certain group of students,
such as members of a club, organization or residence hall.
The only exception would be a “performance or display of a work by a faculty member in
the course of face-to-face teaching activities…. in a classroom or similar place devoted to
instruction” (section 110). The faculty member may show the film outside of the normal
class hours, however, it is only to be viewed by those registered for the course. In order
to invite others, the public viewing rights must be secured.
Wilkes University regards any space outside of an individual student's residence hall
room as a public place on campus. Prior to receiving permission to use any public place
on campus to screen a film or television show, members of the campus community must
present a copy of a public performance license (or other written permission from the
copyright holder) to the Office of Student Affairs (2 nd floor, Passan Hall) or the Office of
Student Development (1 st floor, Henry Student Center).
There are two major firms that handle public performance licenses on college campuses:
1. Criterion picture: http:www.criterionpic.com
2. Swank Motion Pictures Inc: http://www.swank.com
The website for each organization provides the appropriate contact information.
For more information on Title 17, please visit the website of the US Copyright Office at
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html
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