The NFL and its hardened heart

The Shark reads the law so that you don't have to. It turns out that the NFL's policy of permitting sports bars to show games on big screen TVs is mandated by the copyright statutes as well as its policy of limiting other public displays to screens that are less than 55 inches.

While some legal commentators have questioned whether the showing at a church (if limited to members) is a public display at all, it is also the case that the law seems to provide an exception if no direct or indirect admission charge is assessed and whatever proceeds are generated are used for charitable, educational and religious organ purposes unless the copyright holder objects.

So the NFL does not have to cross the land snuffing church parties of whatever size unless it 1) wants to or 2) its license with the networks requires.