Nordisk Copyright Bureau
Music on video, film, DVD-video
- Do you release your own music?
If you release your own music on DVD, video, film or any other audio-visual media, up to 1,000 copies may be exempt from NCB royalties if the below conditions are observed (also referred to as "related party recordings").
If you produce more than 1,000 copies - and the below conditions are fulfilled - you may choose to pay only 15% of the actually invoiced amount (to cover NCB's administration costs).
Certificate to be sent to NCB
Certificate - one author only
Certificate - several authors
Conditions for exemption from NCB royalties
- The producer (the one who is responsible for the release of the recording) must be identical with the composer/songwriter of all songs on the recording.
- If you are two or more persons who have co-written all songs on the recording and you jointly release the recording, the procedure may also apply.
- The producer (the one who is respondible for the release of the recording) is liable for payment of royalties and other obligations towards NCB who administers the copyright in the recorded music.
- The release must be made under the producer's own label.
Pay attention to the following instances
- If it is a re-issue og re-release of a previous recording the exemption does not apply.
- If the release is made on various media (CD, DVD audio, MC, etc), the total number of royalty free copies cannot exceed 1,000.
- If the release is a box that contains several units, each box counts as one unit - meaning that the first 1,000 boxes will be exempt from NCB royalties.
- If the rights in the music is not owned 100% by the author (composer/songwriter) - e.g. part of the rights have been assigned to a publishing house - the procedure does not apply (unless the publishing house in question is owned 100% by the author).
This is how you do it
- In your capacity of producer (production company) you must indicate on the NCB application form that producer and author of all tracks of the recording are identical.
- Your application must be accompanied by a written certificate (se links above) - signed by all persons involved - verifying that producer and composer(s)/songwrites(s) (lyricists) are 100% identical.
- If you opt for the "15% procedure" (explained above) you must clearly indicate this on your application.
