Disney sends $250 bill to Berkeley elementary school for screening 'The Lion King'

Emerson Elementary School in Berkeley. Emerson Elementary School in Berkeley. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Disney sends $250 bill to Berkeley elementary school for screening 'The Lion King' 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

In November, a Berkeley elementary school held a PTA fundraiser where they screened the 2019 remake of Disney classic "The Lion King" — and apparently Disney took notice.

Thursday, Emerson Elementary received a letter from Disney's licensing agent, Movie Licensing USA, ordering the school to pay $250 for screening the film without a license.

Berkeley City Councilmember Lori Droste shared her outrage at the fine on Twitter Friday morning.

"As I was dropping the kids off at the school this morning the PTA was freaking out over a letter they received from Disney’s licensing demanding money. Mind you, they wanted pretty much what they had raised that evening. $250. For Disney. For a movie to raise money for kids," wrote Droste.

The event, a “parent’s night out” fundraiser presented by the PTA's Dad's Club, was advertised on Eventbrite with a suggested donation ticket price of $15.

Who wants to hear an unbelievable story about how Disney is essentially fining Berkeley’s Emerson Elementary School PTA $250 while reaping millions of dollars through a corporate loophole that has decimated public schools across California? @Schools1stCA @evolve_ca @berkeleyside — Lori Droste (@loridroste) January 31, 2020

A single-use permit for a school to show a movie costs $250 and an annual license is $536, a copyright licensing manager told Berkeleyside.

“The event made $800, so if we have to fork over a third of it to Disney, so be it. You know, lesson learned,” PTA president David Rose told KPIX.

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While a license is legally required to show a copyrighted movie in such a way, a studio can choose whether or not to charge for it.

KPIX reported that Emerson's PTA plans to pay the fee and hopes to recoup the loss via donations.

Madeline Wells is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22