National Copyright

1.12 Collecting Societies

In many cases, copyright is administered by collecting societies on behalf of copyright owners..

There are two types of collecting societies:

The main collecting societies are set out below.

(a) Declared Societies

The following collecting societies administer the educational statutory licences created under the Copyright Act.

(i) Copyright Agency Limited (CAL)

CAL is the declared collecting society for:

  • the reproduction and communication of print and artistic works by educational institutions

See Appendix B: Statutory Print Licence

  • the reproduction of print and artistic works by governments.

CAL represents copyright owners of print and artistic works including publishers, authors and artists. CAL 's main function is to administer the statutory licence for the educational copying of print and artistic works.

CAL also offers licences for reproductions of print and artistic works outside the statutory licence schemes on behalf of its members including copying by government departments, press clipping services, churches, associations and corporations.

Website: www.copyright.com.au

(ii) Screenrights

Screenrights (formerly the Audio-Visual Copyright Society Limited) is the declared collecting society for:

  • the copying and communication material from radio and television broadcasts by educational institutions

See Appendix A: Statutory Broadcast Licence

  • the copying and communication material from radio and television broadcasts by government
  • the re-transmission of radio and television broadcasts

Screenrights represents the copyright owners in film, television, sound recordings and other copyright works included in audio-visual products.

Website: www.screen.org

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(b) Voluntary Collecting Societies

The following collecting societies administer the following licences:

(i) Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA)

APRA is the collecting society which collects and distributes licence fees for the public performance and communication to the public of musical works and their lyrics on behalf of its members, namely composers, song writers, music publishers and other copyright owners.

APRA offers blanket and per usage licences for the use of those rights.

Most schools have a licence with APRA which allows them to play live and recorded music at school functions.

See 2.3: Musical Works
See Appendix C: APRA Licence

The licence covers:

  • playing of music as part of a class
  • performances by school bands or orchestras
  • performances by school choirs or singing groups
  • school rock band performances
  • playing music on CDs
  • playing music by way of radio or television broadcasts

Where the music is to be performed (live or pre-recorded) other than above further permission should be sought from APRA.

Website: www.apra.com.au

(ii) AMCOS (Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society)

AMCOS administers and distributes royalties collected for 'mechanical' and 'reproduction' rights in musical works on behalf of its members, namely composers, writers and music publishers. Mechanical rights refer to when the musical work is reproduced in mechanical form, eg a sound recording.

A licence is required to make a recording of a musical work even if there is no intention to sell the recording.

Most education institutions have a voluntary licence with AMCOS in relation to copying of sheet music.

See 2.3: Musical Works
See Appendix D: AMCOS Licence

Website: www.amcos.com.au

(iii) PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Limited)
  • The PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Limited) grants licences on behalf of its members (namely record labels, recording artists, and other copyright owners of sound recordings) for the playing of sound recordings in public and to show music videos in public.

In general, educational institutions do not need to have a PPCA licence. The PPCA administers a licence for the public performance of sound recordings. Its members are recording companies.

Website: www.ppca.com.au

(iv) VI$COPY

VI$COPY is the visual artists collecting society which collects and administers royalties collected on behalf of its members under the Part VA and VB schemes of the Copyright Act. VI$COPY collects monies from the declared collecting societies, Screenrights and CAL to distribute to their members.

Website: www.viscopy.com.au

(v) Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI)

CCLI licences rights over Christian music published by its members. CCLI is not a member of APRA.

Website: www.ccli.com.au

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