Tomorrow, the Patriots and the Seahawks will play Super Bowl XLIX. The game will be a welcome relief from the seemingly nonstop discussion for the PSI of the footballs. We’re looking forward to a great game.

Friends, families and churches nationwide will be hosting Super Bowl watch parties for the game. These gatherings inevitably raise the question of whether or not you can “get in copyright trouble for having a Super Bowl party with a big screen TV?” The short answer is “No, you won’t be in trouble as long as you follow a few rules.”

Section 110 of the Copyright law – entitled “Limitations on exclusive rights: exemption of certain performances and displays” provides the rules to follow. As long as you are watching the game in your private home, without charging admission, you can have as big of a TV or projector as you can afford and not worry about it. You just need to be sure that your big screen is not visible outside of your home so it does not become a public viewing.

Hosting a Super Bowl party at church brings a separate set of considerations. To avoid being tackled by the NFL and accused of copyright infringement, churches need to follow these three simple rules:

1. Churches must show the game live on equipment they use in the course of ministry at their premises (unfortunately, this does not include facilities that a church rents and does not own).

2. Churches cannot charge admission for the party. The NFL has stated, however, that churches may take up a donation to defray the cost of the event.

3. Churches may not use the NFL Shield, Super Bowl or Club logos to promote the watch party.

Large crowds for Super Bowl watch parties bring other legal issues, including premises liability claims. Enjoy the game, but do so responsibly!