COPYRIGHT LAW AND THE USE OF RECORDED MUSIC
If you are producing Audio Visual shows of your work, and want to
use recorded music in them, then the PAGB has recently (June 2010) issued the following advice on copyright.
PAGB RECOMMENDATION
No-one on the PAGB Executive has the expertise to make
definitive statements about Copyright law but these, and previous, articles reflect our limited understanding. We hope it
may be helpful.
However, Copyright law is very complex and neither the
PAGB nor any of the authors accept any responsibility for inaccuracies or misunderstanding that may result from their use.
So far as we can understand it there are three licenses,
which are required in order for you to use commercial music in your AV shows – and even then you should be careful about
charging a performance fee or an entry fee. Expenses or a contribution to costs seems to be permissible.
British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Protects the copyright of the Record Company who made
the recording.
Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS)
Protects the copyright of the Composers of the music.
Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL)
Protects the copyright of the Performer or Performers.
It is the strong recommendation of the PAGB that producers
of AV shows should purchase all three licenses to ensure that they are not breaking the law. Not everyone in the AV field
shares this view but surely it is better to be safe, at a relatively modest cost, rather than risk legal action?
For IAC members* the cost of the three licences (MCPS,
BPI, PPL) is £7.17. For members of the PAGB and the RPS the cost is £8.54 for the MCPS and the BPI licence whilst the PPL
license is only available to IAC members.
*Annual Club membership of the IAC is £40.50 and for Individuals
it is £37.50, with reduction for over 65's. (IAC Membership has other benefits including access to their music library.)
