*The writer of this content is not responsibile for any usage of this content resulting to any consequences, all readers are recommended to consult the relavant parties for further information*
Recently there was a interesting gathering target @ Wedding Videographers,
Recording Industry Performance Singapore Pte Ltd (or RIPS for short) and
MPS Music Publishers (Singapore) Ltd. Since when did wedding videographer became the center of attraction as compare to
wedding photography.
Babara Wong from RIPS explained the basic structure of what RIPS represents. RIPS is empowered to exercise the rights of the 14 record companies till date, including your favour labels from Sony, Warner, Rock Records etc. A licence from RIPs is needed for reproduction of most music today. A yearly licence will cost a company or an individual S$2000.
Sharon from Music Publishers (Singapore ) Ltd (MPS) was on hand to explain their representation of 13 record publishers. Majority of record publishers reside in Malaysia, and hence getting licences for certain songs are not straight forward. Formally, to get licence to copyright songs, one will need to approach individual record companies. MPS has teamed up with 13 record publishers till date to licence the content/lyrics to the songs under these record publishers.
Scenarios which licensing is needed include the following:
Reproduction Right , Mechanical Right and Broadcast Right
For Reproduction Right - involved the Composer for the lyric cover by MPS
Composer for music and Vocal are own by the record publisher hence its cover by RIPS.
For Wedding Dinner Highlight,
Situation 1:
A slideshow that is play during the dinner. Regardless of what medium .Medium can be DVD/mp4/flv/mpeg/Blu-Ray/mts …etc. The creator of this wedding video highlights needs to apply for RIPs licence, AND MPS licence as RIPs covers the music/audio recording, while MPS covers the lyrics/content of the music.
Situation 2:
The video play on the dvd created does not involve copyright music. Another music playing device owned by the hotel or premises such as a CD player is ‘played’ simultaneously as the video is played. No licence here needed as the hotel or premises will be reponsible to get a blanket licence from the relavant authorities. Or you can use your band music to cover it.
Advice for Wedding Couples ,
1) Check whether is the company register and do they have the license for both .
Currently only RIPS is providing the license , MIPS have yet to decide on the amount to charge. Interesting ? Waiting for all publishers to agree. Hence till now until further notice, vendor need to apply for RIPS license.
I remember sharing with a couple when the news broke out in Dec. Some couple bought copyright music and some just try their luck. At that time, i remember sharing with a bride that we will rather get the license for you so that you have a piece of mind on the night and have one less thing to worry about. We send a lot of emails even to the US. Thanks Jamie for all the hard work.
Finally recently RIPS reply to us regard to our concern. We immediately apply for the license. We even ask RIPS if there is a logo for us to put on our namecard and on our video to ensure the couple about this. Our license have been approved till this dec. Do drop us an email if you are interested about our video presentation.
Situation 2: Broadcasting your video
Uploading of videos with copyrighted audio files. TWO extra licenses will be needed, one from RIPS (for the music) and another from Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) for content/lyrics.
We will advise couples to use vimeo, or password protected video source to protect your video. At the same time, purchase copyrighted music for reproduction of your video.
Selected Q&A (rephased):
1) What can photographers do now as the rules are still vague and blur?
- If the photographer wants to reproduce video with copyrighted music. Pay for RIPS licence ($2000/yr), and wait for MPS to reply in the meanwhile for apply for MPS licence
- If photography wants to upload video with copyrighted music onto the internet. Pay for RIPS licence (this is different from the above point, pricing and licence details unknown at the moment). Pay for Compass licence.
- Opt for loyalty free music
- Opt for no music
2) Should there be a pay-per-song or grouped licence to aid freelancers or wedding couples, such as certain plans in Australia and England?
- Currently RIPS thinks that it’s difficult to implement and enforce this, but RIPS will take this into consideration.
3) If company ABC hires a freelancer XYZ and XYZ is the one who makes the express highlights, who is liable for the licence?
- RIPS’s answer was that in principle, both will need to pay. In practical, the creator of the express highlights, who is the freelancer, will be liable.
4) If a foreign videographer comes to Singapore, shoots a wedding here and creates a wedding highlights in foreign land but shows the wedding slideshow back in Singapore with copyrighted music, how are the proceedings?
- The author’s interpretation: It doesn’t matter, the videographer will need to apply for the local licence, as copyright law is territorial. Even if during the actual creation of the music was not done here, playing of that work was shown here, and hence by that virture, licensing is needed.
Just in case if you thinking of hiring foreign vendor from our neighbor, think twice.
if not my advice just mute the music for photo montage and play off a cd player.
5) If company ABC is a consortium and owns a subsidary DEF company which does wedding videography, how does the licensing work?
- The parent company can apply for the licence and it’ll apply to the subsidary.
6) Can I record a song with a freelance singer, and the song is accompanied in a video slideshow and will that infringe copyright?
- Yes, this will infringe the content/lyrics portion, which is under the MPS.
Solution, if your freelance singer perform on the night than it will be alright but the band will have to sync to the video.
Commendable comments from the public:
- An ‘ecommerce’ platform to purchase the various licences will be useful be it a grouped product or on an ad-hoc /per song basis.
- Clear guidelines and deadlines and enforcement rules should be sorted out clearly.
- RIPS/MPS are helping the label/record companies and copyright owners, who is helping the wedding vidoegraphers and couples getting married?
Please refer to http://www.mps.org.sg/, http://www.rips.com.sg, http://www.compass.org.sg/ for updates.
Current update : Just wondering why is this even closed door, it should be open to the public.
Its about creating awareness about respecting composer and their creation. We truly respect that. We also feel that if all creator should own their right for music, video and other IP.
