Definitions - Vidéo and Karaoke recording

© Carsten Reisinger

For record industry professionals, a “video recording” is the reproduction of images and sounds on a recording format (videocassette, DVD, etc.). A video clip, a film (fictional work or corporate audiovisual work), a documentary, a filmed concert, the recording of a show, a one-man show or karaoke are video recordings.

For a work to be reproduced the original creator must give his/her approval. The producer of a video (or “video publisher”, in record industry terminology) must fulfill this obligation. The agreement may concern different rights-holders, not only the author-composer, but also the director and the author of the dubbing (or sub-titles).

All of these original creative artists can decide to have their rights administered by a society of authors: SACEM (Society of authors, composers and publishers of music) SACD (Society of Authors & Composers of Dramatic Works) or SCAM (Society of Multimedia Authors) depending on the repertoires they represent.
In practice, the video producer has to contact a fourth society, SDRM (Collection society for private copying of audio works), which acts for the other three in issuing licenses and collecting the corresponding rights.

These licenses and the applicable rates are based on several criteria:

• the type of content reproduced: video recordings, fiction films, television programs, documentaries, musical or comedy video recordings, karaoke, etc.
• the type of use (sale, rental, newsstands, etc.)
   

Important: Authorization is required in all cases. However, when all of the works reproduced are in the public domain or are not in the repertoires administered by SDRM, no payment will be due, but we suggest that you contact SDRM for confirmation of the status of the works to be used.

© Christian McCarty

A Karaoke video recording is any sound, text or visual recording format (including digital formats) reproducing the performance of the music of a given work with simultaneous display of the lyrics and/or score of the work, and designed for the users to give a vocal performance of the work.

SDRM administers reproduction rights for works of the member societies (SACD, Sacem and SCAM) covering musical performances. A license application must therefore be lodged with SDRM.

The music publisher has the right to grant or refuse authorization for the text of the lyrics and/or the score of the work to be reproduced.

The producer of the karaoke video recording must obtain both these authorizations. SDRM may be delegated by certain publishers to act on their behalf, granting or refusing approval for the lyrics and/or scores of works in their catalogue to be reproduced.