Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Washington

Let's get a couple of things straight first. (1) what you are looking for is a license to perform the work publicly. (2) It is not "the DVD" that you want to perform, but "the work" -- the movie itself (it makes no difference whether from DVD, VHS or any other medium).

One way is to go directly to the motion picture studio listed as the copyright owner on the DVD, but that could be cumbersome. There are third parties that handle licensing that you may find more efficient. The Motion Picture Association of America lists three of them on their website at http://www.mpaa.org/contentprotection/public-performance-law. The license terms will vary according to the type of public performance you envision.

As a Franchise Attorney I basically agree with the other attorney answer, but add the following. If the DVD contains copyrighted material owned by a third party, then you need that third party's consent. It's called a license for public performance and, as mentioned in the previous answer, there are three major licensors to potentially contact, depending on who owns the copyright. Consult with a good business or franchise attorney in your area for specific advice.

Mr. Franchise - Kevin B. Murphy, B.S., M.B.A., J.D.

Franchise Foundations, a Professional Corporation