Copyright Issues

[danel]

Hi Guys,
Just wanna check if you guys know where can I find resources on the use of music/ dvd etc say for a video, eg wedding video to be played for an audience. Or audio for a few clips to be palced on our own website.

Like is it legal to use love songs to do wedding video? If not how much does one gotta pay for the right to use it? I heard somewhere that as long as its less than 30 secs means ok? Can anyone affirm this?

Noob here in such issues...

[tommon]

Any music used for commercial projects must be licienced. Unless you performed it yourself and the song is over 50 years old. You can purchased the at music libraries (many of them the Tg Pagar / Amoy street area) or royalty free.

These libraries will have all the details of how these music can be used.

[vince123123]

Are you sure this is correct? Performance is not the same as authorship. And you are wrong to use the criteria of "50 years old".

Originally Posted by tommon Unless you performed it yourself and the song is over 50 years old.

[tommon]

It's true if you play say a classical piece like a cello solo or violin solo or even use a sythesiser to play all the parts of a Beethoven symphony, you don't need copyright, the man is dead and buried, sorry not being disrespectful just the fact. But it's easier to just go out there and use the services of those places i mentioned earlier.

Unless you are really good at those composing stuff.

[danel]

Hi Thanks, but what do you mean by commercial?
Means earning $$ from it?
Say for a wedding video... Couple request for a famous love song, which is different from royalty free tracks, how should I go about doing it the legal way?

[josho]

Originally Posted by tommon It's true if you play say a classical piece like a cello solo or violin solo or even use a sythesiser to play all the parts of a Beethoven symphony, you don't need copyright, the man is dead and buried, sorry not being disrespectful just the fact. But it's easier to just go out there and use the services of those places i mentioned earlier. Unless you are really good at those composing stuff.

Yes, right. after 50 years after the person had passed away, it will be non rights. Unless the family member insist of holding on the rights.

[GhostSG]

Anyone wana find out about local copyright laws just check up the following govt websites :

http://www.ipos.gov.sg/main/index.html

http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_versi...st&method=part

[vince123123]

As I said before, its no longer 50 years....

[tommon]

Commercial means once you received any form of payment for the video clips that includes the music. Many freelance video people today are in liability for a copyright infingment violation. Once the music publishers decides to take legal action against all these jokers, the pros will once again take back the market.

HOORAY ! ! !

[vince123123]

Once again you are wrong. It doesn't have to be commercial use in order to constitute copyright infringement.

Originally Posted by tommon Commercial means once you received any form of payment for the video clips that includes the music. Many freelance video people today are in liability for a copyright infingment violation. Once the music publishers decides to take legal action against all these jokers, the pros will once again take back the market. HOORAY ! ! !

[danel]

Originally Posted by tommon Commercial means once you received any form of payment for the video clips that includes the music. Many freelance video people today are in liability for a copyright infingment violation. Once the music publishers decides to take legal action against all these jokers, the pros will once again take back the market. HOORAY ! ! !

woohoo... then i think all wedding video company gonna close down... cos where can find couple who wanna fork out $$ for love songs rights... siao...??? just some romantic beat meh...

[GhostSG]

Extracts from website - Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

OWNERSHIP RIGHTS

Literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works - Authors enjoy the exclusive rights to reproduce the work; publish the work; perform the work in public; communicate the work to the public; and make an adaptation of the work.

Published editions of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works The publisher has the exclusive right to make a reproduction of the edition.

Sound recordings The producer of a sound recording enjoys the exclusive rights to:make a copy of the sound recording; commercially rent out the sound recording; publish the sound recording if it is unpublished; and make available to the public a sound recording by means or as part of a digital audio transmission.

Cinematograph films The producer of a film enjoys the exclusive rights to :make a copy of the film; cause the film to be seen in public; and communicate the film to the public.

Television and radio broadcasts The broadcaster enjoys the exclusive rights to : make a film or sound recording of the broadcast; rebroadcast; communicate the broadcast to the public; and cause the broadcast to be seen or heard by a paying audience.

Cable programmes The producer of the cable programme enjoys the exclusive rights to : make a film or sound recording of the cable programme; communicate the cable programme to the public; and cause the cable programme to be seen or heard by a paying audience.


“Communicate” is defined as to transmit by electronic means (whether over a path or combination of paths or otherwise) a work or other subject matter, whether or not it is sent in response to a request and includes:

(a) Broadcasting
(b) Inclusion in a cable programme
(c) The making available of the work or other subject matter in such a way that the work or subject matter may be accessed by any person from a place and at a time chosen by him (e.g. access over the Internet).

TERM

The duration varies according to the type of copyright work concerned.

Literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works - 70 years from the end of the year the author died. If the work is only published after the death of the author, it lasts for 70 years from the end of the year in which the work was first published.

Published editions of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works (layout) - 25 years from the end of the year the edition was first published.

Sound recordings and films- 70 years from the end of the year the sound recording or film was first released.

Broadcasts and cable programmes- 50 years from the end of the year the broadcast or cable programme was first made.

Performances - 70 years from the end of the year of the performance.

SEEKING PERMISSION FROM COPYRIGHT OWNERS

To do anything that only the copyright owner has the exclusive rights to do (e.g. reproduce the work), his consent is needed. The mere acknowledgement of the source does not mean the copyright owner has given his consent. Sometimes, consent is indicated in the terms of permitted use e.g. “for Private Use Only”. Otherwise, one should seek permission from copyright owners.

To do so, one may either contact the copyright owners directly and negotiate for a licence to use the copyright material; or obtain a licence through a collective society. A collective society is an organisation that administers the rights of a group of copyright owners. It can grant consent to use the works of its members under specific conditions. A list of these collective societies in Singapore may be found on IPOS’ website.

[vince123123]

Perhaps rather than just cutting and pasting wholesale, you could also provide your view on how those points are relevant.

[GhostSG]

Since Danel is enquiring on copyrights law in S'pore. It's self-explanatory in simple english, highlighted in RED also - since the issues of no of yrs , what infringe copyright are repeatedly brought up. If I copy wholesale - dun tink the forum got enough space for all the info.

If anyone has any music usage query, please do not hesitate to contact

Music Publishers (Singapore) Ltd at:
Email Address : info@mps.org.sg

Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
Email Address : ipos_enquiry@ipos.gov.sg

[vince123123]

Hmm, now that you highlighted the parts, I know what you are relying on. I do note that there is a difference between the copyright in a musical work, and the copyright in a sound recording.

[LazerLordz]

For commercial or public broadcast, the music contained within a video has to be legally certified to be used within.

If you are doing it for your own collection, that's where you take your own risk. If you know what I mean.

[GhostSG]

Originally Posted by LazerLordz For commercial or public broadcast, the music contained within a video has to be legally certified to be used within. If you are doing it for your own collection, that's where you take your own risk. If you know what I mean.

Well done, good and constructive advice.