People are sensitive about their teeth. So, your practice takes care to make sure they are comfortable and relaxed in your waiting and treatment rooms. Playing television shows and movies is a great way to help patients and visitors relax.
TVs and monitors are now part of many orthodontist practices, along with toys, games, books, and calming sea and landscapes. You can even find guidelines for how to place them for maximum effect and enjoyment, such as above the chair in treatment rooms and mounted from the ceiling with Bluetooth audio in waiting rooms or your reception area.
With great entertainment content comes great responsibility, however. There are legal obligations involved with the copyrighted content in TV, movies, and audiovisual presentations, and they’re not widely understood.
Bringing Clarity to Confusion over Copyrights
U.S. law gives copyright owners control over the public exhibition of their works. Your orthodontist office is considered a public space, even though you don’t charge admission or only one patient is watching a screen.
Many orthodontist offices assume that because they pay for consumer streaming services or cable subscriptions, they have the right to show those programs anywhere on property. However, these services are licensed solely for private, in‑home use.
Put more simply, these are the differences:
- Private viewing is only for friends and family.
- Public performance is any viewing outside the home, even if you charge a fee or your audience is small.
Ultimately, by showing television and movies without a license, orthodontists risk significant fines for copyright infringement.
Why a License Matters No Matter Who Pushes Play
A public performance license applies to public showings of movies, TV programs, and other audiovisual content enjoyed from sources like:
- Broadcast, cable, or satellite television
- DVDs
- Downloads
- Streaming services
This licensing supports the creators and distributors who produce the content that orthodontist offices rely on to add ambience. It ensures that these content producers are fairly compensated for their work.
Using unlicensed content may lead to compliance issues and potential legal exposure, so it’s important to have the proper license in place.
How MPLC Supports Orthodontists and Their Offices
To increase awareness of this important issue, Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC) is committed to helping educate orthodontists about copyright compliance and offer an affordable public performance licensing solution.
MPLC is exclusively authorized by motion picture studios and other copyright owners to grant a blanket license for the public performance of copyrighted television, movies, and other audiovisual content. MPLC issues the license your office needs to show copyrighted content in compliance with federal copyright law.
More than 5,000 global motion picture and television rights holders, including Disney, CBS, Warner Bros., Paramount, ABC, Televisa, HGTV, Lionsgate, Discovery and many more. Once licensed, your practice can show content on screens from the source of your choice without the need to report times, dates, or titles shown.
The MPLC blanket license is designed to make compliance simple, affordable, and stress‑free, so your practice can focus on caring for your patients. They can watch what they need to relax while waiting for treatment.
A Strong Partnership with AAO
MPLC is ready help orthodontists, their offices, and practices. We’ve been in business for 40 years, and we have an excellent relationship with the AAO as a trusted provider of public performance licensing. We have served numerous AAO members nationwide, providing clear, practical education on copyright law, public performance rights, and best practices tailored specifically for orthodontist offices.
Learn More
The MPLC Blanket License is the easiest way to ensure your office is copyright compliant. Working with our team, you’ll be quickly covered and protected.
To explore how the MPLC Blanket License can support your practice’s compliance needs, visit https://us.mplc.com/industry/dental/.
MPLC: Show TV and Movies with Confidence