What is a Public Performance Licence?
It is a licence which gives permission to any person or establishment to play in public all or any of the karaoke and/or music videos,
the copyright in which is owned by or exclusively licensed to the
record companies represented by RIPS.
Who should apply for a Public Performance Licence?
Any person or establishment using the record companies' videos to provide:
- karaoke entertainment
- music videos featured entertainment
- music videos background entertainment
to the public or a section of the public should apply for a Public Performance Licence.
Why should I apply for Public Performance Licence?
The purchase of a video/laser disc/VCD/DVD is strictly limited to home use and does not give the purchaser any right to play that video/laser disc/VCD/DVD in public. In Singapore, karaoke and music videos are increasingly being used in public premises (refer to the left column for list of public permises). Failure to apply for a licence in advance of any public performance of karaoke and/or music videos is a violation of the Copyright Act.
Where to apply for a Public Performance Licence?
Applications for licences should be made through Recording Industry Performance
Singapore Pte Ltd (RIPS). A licence will be granted to the applicant subject to the terms and
conditions stated in the application form and payment of the appropriate fee.
How much is the Public Performance Licence fee?
The Licence fee to be paid will depend on the type of outlet and its
seating capacity as stated in the Public Entertainment Licence. Ad-hoc licences will depend on the type and duration of the event. Please refer to tariff schedule for a list of fees payable.
For karaoke tariffs, click here
For music videos tariffs, click here
What happens to the fees collected?
Licence fees collected are distributed among the respective copyright owners.
What authority does RIPS have to collect licence fees and grant licence fees?
RIPS (Recording Industry Performance Singapore Pte Ltd) is authorised by record companies to administer their rights and to grant the requisite licences.
What if I don't apply for an appropriate licence?
Any person or establishment who does not have a licence will be committing an offence under the copyright law. The infringers are liable to be prosecuted under civil or criminal proceedings. For the criminal offence under Section 136(6) of the Copyright Act, the infringer is punishable by a fine not exceeding S$20,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both for each offence committed.
Do I need an additional licence from RIPS as I already have a licence from COMPASS?
Yes, if you are offiering karaoke and/or music videos entertainment in your establishment. RIPS grant licences for performance in public of the film used in connection with karaoke and/or music videos belonging to the record companies.
COMPASS represents the copyright interest of composers, authors and publishers of musical works and their lyrics.
Do I need a licence from RIPS as I have already obtained a Public Entertainment Licence?
A Public Entertainment Licence is required when you offer any entertainment activity in public. Such a licence is obtained from the CID.
If you provide karaoke and/or music videos facilities in your establishment, you are also required to obtain a Public Performance of Karaoke and/or Music Videos Licence from RIPS under the copyright law.
When must licence fees be paid?
Licence fees must be made in full in advance within fourteen (14) days from the date of our notification. Annual renewal of licence fees must be paid before the start of the calendar year.
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Why do I need a reproduction of sound recordings licence for public performance?
The reproduction of the sound recordings onto computerised or other storage systems requires the consent of the relevant copyright owners.
If a copy of a sound recording is made for playing in public, RIPS is empowered to excerise the rights of the record companies to grant you a licence (in which the copyright is owned or controlled by the record companies) so that your copies comply with the law.
Why do I need an extra licence if I have obtained the sound recordings lawfully.
When you purchase a vinyl record, tape or CD, you can only play that record at home. You do not have any rights to copy that record, or to play that record in public. So if you want to copy a sound recording on that record onto your computer or any other storage systems, you must obtain the permission of the copyright owners.
If you download a sound recording legally, you are given a limited right to keep a copy of the downloaded sound recording for your home listening. If you want to keep that copy for other purposes, then you are required to obtain the permission of the copyright owners.
Who should apply for a Reproduction of Sound Recordings Licence.
All establishments that have reproduced the record companies' sound recordings represented by RIPS onto computerised or other storage systems must apply for a Reproduction of Sound Recordings Licence.
For various categories of business establishments which may need to obtain this licence, click here
Why are we now required to obtain this licence when we have been playing sound recordings from a computerised system or other storage systems for a long time? Under this circumstance, will RIPS backdate the licence fee payable?
We are aware that several establishments which play sound recordings in public no longer do so directly from a CD or similar record. Instead, the sound recordings are reproduced onto computersied or other storage systems. The reproduction of the sound recordings onto computerised or other storage systems requires the consent of the copyright owners. In this regards, with effect from 1 January 2007, RIPS is administering and operating on behalf of the record companies a new licence scheme for the reproduction of sound recordings for the purposes of public performance.
RIPS will not backdate licence fee for the reproduction of sound recordings prior to 1 January 2007. However, RIPS's members may have claim against you in respect of any past unauthorised copying and these claims are not affected by the grant of this licence to you.
What if I don't get a Reproduction of Sound Recordings Licence?
If you have reproduced the record companies sound recordings that RIPS represent onto computerised or other storage systems without this licence, you are infringing the record companies' rights in its sound recordings. RIPS will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those establishments (and their directors or proprietor/s) who infringe the record companies'
copyrights.
Does this licence allow me to create mixes
This licence allows you to copy and store sound recordings in their original form (that is, the record purchased from the shop) on the computerised or other storage systems (and Back-up Database). You are not allowed to edit or alter the sound recordings (including combining two or more sound recordings to create a new track).
DJs can create a mix from different sound recordings when they are performing. However, they are not allowed to record this mix onto the computerised or other storage systems.
Can any individual freelance DJ obtain a Reproduction of Sound Recordings Licence?
Any individual freelance DJ who wants to reproduce digitised copies of the sound recordings for the purpose of public performance at ad-hoc events several times a year, eg. outdoor shows, Dinner & Dance, etc) can obtain this licence if the copying takes place in Singapore.
What about karaoke records?
The Reproduction of Sound Recordings Licence only covers the copying and storage of sound recordings on your computerised or other storage systems (and Back-up Database). To create karaoke records or copy such record onto a computerised system, a Karaoke-on-Demand (KOD) Licence is required together with a Public Performance Licence.
To know more about KOD Licence, click here
To know more about Public Peformance Licence, click here
What protection do I have to provide for the digital copies?
You will need to make sure that the digital copies (both on the computerised or other storage system, and on Back-up Database) are kept safe and secure. As a minimum, you should keep
them safely locked away when not in use and with passwords required to gain access.
When does the licence fee have to be paid?
The annual licence fee has to be paid in full and in advance for each year that the licence fee remains in force. The licence will not come into effect unless the annual licence fee is paid. In subsquent years, you will have to pay the annual licence fee upon receipt of our renewal
notice.
What information do I have to provide to RIPS
On and before the 1st day of March following the end of each calendar year, Licensee is to provide a list of the sound recordings that are copied onto the computerised system at any point during that calendar year, together with all the information annexed in Schedule E of our Licence Terms & Conditions. This information is important to RIPS as it will enable the licence fee to be distributed as fairly as possible between the record companies whose sound recordings are used.
Can RIPS inspect my computer?
RIPS will have the right to inspect the computerised systems and Back-up Database.
Is this licence transferable?
This licence is non-transferable.
What happens when the licence is terminated?
When the licence is terminated, whether voluntarily by your company in the event of business cessation or other reasons, or by RIPS for breaching the licence agreement, all sound recordings must be removed from the computerised or other storage systems and Back-up Database. This means that digital copies of the sound recordings must be erased from the hard disk unit of your system.
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