Social Care News

Warning on film licences shown in care homes

A company called the Motion Picture Licensing Company has been contacting care homes offering to sell them a licence to show DVDs and films in communal areas, reports CFW’s senior policy officer, Mary Wimbury.

Mary said anyone who is approached by the company should get in touch with her for advice as she has been looking whether or not care homes actually need a licence to show films in this way.

She explained: “A number of our members have reported being contacted and asked to buy a licence.

“We’ve been taking legal advice on this and whether care homes need a licence or not is not clear-cut.

“So far we have not been able to establish whether MPLC definitely has the rights to sell the licence they offer.

“We also don’t know for sure whether those rights include the sorts of DVDs or videos that care homes are likely to play for residents – often residents enjoy older films which may not fall in the category of needing a licence.

“We are also taking advice on whether showing films in a care home environment requires a licence in the first place,” she added.

Members who have been in touch have said that, when they didn’t respond to MPLC's demands, there have been no consequences to date but, added Mary, “If you do have any concerns about this please do contact us, or consider taking your own legal advice.”