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Every
year around Christmas time we get queries from schools about the copyright
implications of putting on pantomimes or musicals .
Although the Authority does have a licence with the Performing Right Society (PRS):
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For the
public performance of musical works under the control of the Society and its
affiliates, the licence does not cover musical-dramatic works such as
operas, musicals, reviews and pantomimes.
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Therefore, if you perform any commercially bought pantomime or musical to any
audience, paying or not, you must purchase a grand right licence for that
performance. Beware too of making any changes to the original works without the
publisher’s permission.
Musical
works whether live or recorded performances may be freely performed for the
purposes of education, provided that the audience consists of teachers and
pupils only. Performances for outside groups including friends
and parents as well as the general public do need permission from the copyright
holders.
Performing Right Society
http://www.prs.co.uk
The PRS licence covers
the public performance of musical works at school concerts,
dances and discos on Council-owned premises. As
mentioned above dramatic works, including school plays, are
excluded.
Playing Sound Recordings
As well as the Performing Right Society licence our schools and
community/leisure centres are also covered by the Phonographic Performance
Ltd (http://www.ppluk.com/) & licences which covers the
public performance of sound recordings. This is because there are two distinct
copyrights in a musical work. One protects the rights of the composer and artist
(PRS), the other protects the actual sound recording (PPL).
Our licence allows schools and
community/leisure centres to play/b> recorded music for:
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Background music.
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Extra-curricular activities including School Board and
PTA functions; sports events; incidental music in school
performances; inter-school competitions and festivals;
aerobics classes etc.; clubs, associations and social
use within the school.
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Specified entertainment including school parties,
dances, ceilidhs and functions designed to raise funds
for specific school or charitable purposes.
The PPL licence covers the let of school
premises for:
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Sports exercise and dance instruction.
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Background music.
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Societies, clubs and associations holding irregular
entertainments, mainly for the benefit of their members
and on a non - commercial basis.
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Competitions, festivals etc. on a non-commercial basis.
The PPL licence does not cover:
In all cases where sound recordings are played in public it
should be made clear that a licensable function is taking place
under the permissions of the general licence of Phonographic
Performance Ltd
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