Copyright Absurdity: School Play Canceled Over Copyright Due To Minor Performance Changes
- A planned two-day production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" at Fannin County High School in Georgia was cut short after the first performance.
- Scott Ramsey and other school leaders stated they "received several complaints as to an unauthorized change in the script of the play." The specific alterations remain undisclosed, but...
- The school's statement indicated that the performance "did not reflect the original script" and that these changes lacked approval from both the licensing company and the administration.
Georgia High School Cancels ‘Crucible’ Performance Over Copyright Dispute
A planned two-day production of Arthur Miller’s ”The Crucible” at Fannin County High School in Georgia was cut short after the first performance. School officials attributed the cancellation to a copyright issue stemming from unauthorized changes to the play’s script.
Principal Dr. Scott Ramsey and other school leaders stated they “received several complaints as to an unauthorized change in the script of the play.” The specific alterations remain undisclosed, but officials said they violated the licensing agreement for “The Crucible,” leading to its termination.
The school’s statement indicated that the performance “did not reflect the original script” and that these changes lacked approval from both the licensing company and the administration. This “infraction resulted in an automatic termination of the licensing agreement,” preventing the second performance.
“Upon inquiry, we learned that the performance did not reflect the original script.These alterations were not approved by the licensing company or administration. The performance contract for The Crucible does not allow modifications without prior written approval. Failing to follow the proper licensing approval process for additions led to a breach in our contract with the play’s publisher,” school officials said. “The infraction resulted in an automatic termination of the licensing agreement.The second performance of The Crucible could not occur because we were no longer covered by a copyright agreement.”
The nature and extent of the script changes remain unclear. Questions linger about who identified the alterations and whether the school proactively addressed the issue or if an external party reported the violation.
The incident raises questions about copyright and artistic license, especially concerning a work like “The Crucible,” which was first published in 1953. The play, an allegory for McCarthyism set during the Salem Witch Trials, remains subject to copyright despite its age and the author’s death in 2005.
What’s next
It remains to be seen whether the school will attempt to rectify the copyright issue and stage a future performance of “The Crucible” or another play.