COPYRIGHT CLEARANCE – OBTAINING A SYNCH LICENSE
In order to use an existing music track on a film or commercial, the necessary permissions must first be obtained and a synchronization license issued by the copyright holders.If an existing track is to be used as is, there will need to be 2 clearances done – phonographic (the right that exists in the recording) and publishing (the right that exists in the copyright). If the intention is to re-record a work then only one clearance will be required (publishing).Any foreign language versions or parodies etc (in other words anything that changes the fundamental nature of the copyright) would need to be approved by the copyright holders.
IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS
The procedure can be easy or complicated. There are sometimes complex publishing arrangements e.g. co-publishing deals or trusts (where the composer is deceased).Therefore a realistic timeline needs to be in place - sometimes this can take up to 6 weeks or more.There are no guarantees of getting a music license. It is always the decision of the copyright owner whether to grant a synch license or not. There are no guidelines on pricing. It will depend on the value that the rights owners place on the work and the contractual position of the work (for example – there may be a worldwide deal already in place) In the case of Arabic copyrights, the process can be extremely difficult because of the vagaries of where the rights sit. Also tracking the rights is more complex because there is no copyright society in the GCC.Fees for synch licenses will normally need to be paid in full before the license is issued (i.e. before the air date)
For terms and conditions
please contact us for further information - info@bkpmusic.com
