In November, a Berkeley elementary school held a PTA fundraiser where they screened the 2019 remake of Disney classic "The Lion King" — and apparently Disney took notice.
Thursday, Emerson Elementary received a letter from Disney's licensing agent, Movie Licensing USA, ordering the school to pay $250 for screening the film without a license
Berkeley City Councilmember Lori Droste shared her outrage at the fine on Twitter Friday morning.
"As I was dropping the kids off at the school this morning the PTA was freaking out over a letter they received from Disney’s licensing demanding money. Mind you, they wanted pretty much what they had raised that evening. $250. For Disney. For a movie to raise money for kids," wrote Droste.
The event, a “parent’s night out” fundraiser presented by the PTA's Dad's Club, was advertised on Eventbrite with a suggested donation ticket price of $15.
A single-use permit for a school to show a movie costs $250 and an annual license is $536, a copyright licensing manager told You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
“The event made $800, so if we have to fork over a third of it to Disney, so be it. You know, lesson learned,” PTA president David Rose told You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
While a license is legally required to show a copyrighted movie in such a way, a studio can choose whether or not to charge for it.
You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. reported that Emerson's PTA plans to pay the fee and hopes to recoup the loss via donations.
Thursday, Emerson Elementary received a letter from Disney's licensing agent, Movie Licensing USA, ordering the school to pay $250 for screening the film without a license
Berkeley City Councilmember Lori Droste shared her outrage at the fine on Twitter Friday morning.
"As I was dropping the kids off at the school this morning the PTA was freaking out over a letter they received from Disney’s licensing demanding money. Mind you, they wanted pretty much what they had raised that evening. $250. For Disney. For a movie to raise money for kids," wrote Droste.
The event, a “parent’s night out” fundraiser presented by the PTA's Dad's Club, was advertised on Eventbrite with a suggested donation ticket price of $15.
A single-use permit for a school to show a movie costs $250 and an annual license is $536, a copyright licensing manager told You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
“The event made $800, so if we have to fork over a third of it to Disney, so be it. You know, lesson learned,” PTA president David Rose told You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
While a license is legally required to show a copyrighted movie in such a way, a studio can choose whether or not to charge for it.
You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. reported that Emerson's PTA plans to pay the fee and hopes to recoup the loss via donations.