The big screen at De Pere Cinema has gone dark for Green Bay Packers games.

The second-run movie theater will no longer be allowed to show Packers game broadcasts after receiving notice from the NFL’s legal counsel that the showings are in violation of copyright laws. Owners Mike and Vicki Radue shared the news Tuesday on the theater’s Facebook page:

“We are sorry to announce that we will no longer be able to show the Packer games. We have received notice from the NFL that under their copyright laws we do not qualify to show their games even though we do not charge admission. We are saddened by this policy of the NFL as families enjoyed bringing their children and our regular patrons appreciated the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The couple have owned the theater at 417 George St. since 2001 and shown Packers games for nearly 20 years, Mike Radue said. The Radues own two other indoor theaters under Get Reel Inc.: Lakeshore Cinema in Manitowoc and Chilton Cinema in Chilton. The announcement of no more Packers game showings was also posted on the Lakeshore Cinema Facebook page.

PressGazette  wrote:

That isn't to say I like the league's decision, of course, just that I can completely understand why they'd want to protect their lucrative licensing revenue stream. Can you imagine the stink places like Buffalo Wild Wings would put up if they found out competitors weren't paying for the privilege of showing the games? It would seriously diminish the amount the NFL could charge for these licenses.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 

MLB Won't Give Me Permission To Describe Game To Friend 
9.3.09 2:17 PM EDT By Phil Villarreal

Shoeless Joe Jackson. Pete Rose. Barry Bonds. Now I add my name to the end of this list, for we all have been shunned by Major League Baseball.

After watching the Diamondbacks-Astros game Aug. 23, I decided I’d like to describe the game to my friend Tyler, who was too busy to watch it. But mindful of the oft-repeated disclaimer, “Any rebroadcast, retransmission, or account of this game, without the express written consent of Major League Baseball, is prohibited,” I wanted to square my plans with league offices first. I thought my chances were decent. After all, it’s been done before.

The next morning I shot off an e-mail to MLB with my request and heard back within hours from Valerie Vieira, from the business development department in MLB Advanced Media. She asked me to call her.

I explained my situation to her and asked how to go about getting express written consent. She wanted to know if I was going to blog about the game or do a podcast, and I said no, I just wanted to describe the game to someone while sitting on my living room couch.

“How could anyone stop you from talking about the game in your own living room?” she said, taking my request as a joke.

I reassured her that it wasn’t. While I doubted the MLB spies would be able to get to me, the disclaimer made it very clear that I’m not allowed to give my account of the game, so I wanted express written consent that gave me permission to talk about the game, and I would post a blog about how I went about attaining the consent. She said someone else from MLB would be calling me.

I waited 9 days, holding my tongue about the forbidden Diamondbacks-Astros game, patiently hoping MLB would give me the thumbs-up. I called and e-mailed Valerie several times to remind her I was waiting, but neither she nor anyone else has gotten back to me.

I take this to mean I am not allowed to describe the game to Tyler. Which is just as well, because I’ve forgotten all about the particulars now. Well played, Major League Baseball. This is one treasured, legally protected account you were able to keep under wraps.

Thankfully, MLB did not require me to get “express written consent” to describe my attempts at getting “express written consent,” so here we are.

Postscript: I also asked the NBA and NFL for express written consent to describe game 2 of the 2009 NBA Finals and the Aug. 22 Cardinals-Chargers preseason game, respectively, but was ignored. At least MLB was courteous enough to reply.

Phil Villarreal wrote:

Making Sure You Have Your Expressed Written Consent 

Leitch
9/27/05 4:43PM

We make fun of commissioner Bud Selig and Major League Baseball a lot here, but we must give credit where credit be due. An enterprising sort named Merritt Bettineski, tongue planted firmly in Merritt Bettineski Cheek, wrote a letter to MLB Headquarters asking Selig for permission to show an old Seattle Mariners game at a party, mindful of the omnipresent "Any rebroadcast, reproduction or other use of this game without the express written consent of Major League Baseball is prohibited." And, God bless 'em, MLB wrote him back.