 Most
of this information is UK-specific. Laws and customs may be different in
other countries.
COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING -
introduction |
FAQs |
IAC Licensing
In practice how do we avoid copyright problems?
Library music
Many professionals use a vast range of recordings offered by specialist
companies. Most of it is played on real instruments rather than synthesisers.
Such firms do not normally sell to the public but IAC members can get advice
on what is available and buy library music through our
Music Advisory Service.
To use the music you need the clearances in
IAC's Copyright Scheme. |
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You can try to buy music rights from music publishers - but at a very high
price. For non-commercial movie makers there are four practical answers:
Write and play your own music or find someone to do it for you.
Use "royalty free" music CDs sold specially for use by film makers.
Join IAC and use its licence scheme:
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 Some musicians are keen to try their
hand at writing for movies, so ask around. For them a copy of your movie
will become part of their portfolio. Make sure you get a written agreement
to use their work for your movie. Check our
Small Ads pages - sometimes musicians
offer their services there. |
Commercial Music
Sometimes you may be able to use a commercial recording in your movie.
To do so you must join IAC, buy licences in our
Copyright Clearance Scheme and
get permission from the Musicians Union.
This is generally granted without charge for general amateur film use but
there are strict limits on what you can do with the movie - no sales for
example. |
Make your own music
If you can play an instrument consider this approach. There are also computer
music generating programs which can give very good results with some ingenuity
on your part. But since such programs depend on music samples recorded by
professionals do check what the licence with the program allows you to do
with it.
Some film makers - especially animators - use the simple music tools which
come free with most computers to make appropriate sounds. (Part of Albert
Noble's fascinating guide to creating animation simply and cheaply deals
with this - rent his tutorial from
our Video Library.) |
Royalty Free music
This comes in CD collections or as downloads. They cost more than normal
music - but for this you get a whole set of rights to use it in your work
without further charge. (Check carefully exactly what rights each company
offers.)
There are also websites with free royalty free music.
For most of us this is a cost-effective and easy solution. There is
a lot of choice and prices are reasonable.
Find music suppliers in our Movie Making Links
page. |
Copyright and the other licensing required is a minefield
but IAC can help you through it.
Most of this information is UK-specific. Laws
and customs may be different in other countries.
Any copyright owner can refuse permission without explanation.
This can happen, for example, if the managers of an artist think a film brings
the artist into disrepute.
Picture on this page comes from
Stock.XCHNG - by Manu
Mohan.
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