How much does a Licence cost?
Hosting a public screening of a film is a great opportunity to entertain and engage viewers, whether it’s for an event, a school night or a fundraiser. Probably one of the least known aspects, is the cost of the licence necessary to legally screen the film.
In this article, we will explore in detail what are the costs involved in obtaining a licence to show a film in public. We’ll look at the different types of licenses, the factors that influence their cost, and provide real-world examples to help you better understand what to expect.
Film Licence and Rights
Showing a film in public requires the authorisation of the owner of both the rights to use the cinematographic work and the soundtracks. This is essential to comply with Copyright Law and ensure that content creators receive fair remuneration for the use of their works. Without the proper license, public screenings are illegal: the realization of an offense implies significant consequences in civil and criminal matters.
MPLC is the international body that issues authorisation for the public performance of audiovisual works. It provides film licenses for public screenings, guaranteeing organisers a catalog of over 20,000 works, in order to make the acquisition of authorisation easier and faster.
How much does the film license cost?
The cost of obtaining the necessary authorisation for the public screening of a film varies according to numerous factors and derives from the evaluation of several parameters.
When setting the licence fee, the key factor is how the film fits into your event. Is it the main attraction, or just a supporting activity? This helps determine the right type of licence and its cost.
Types of permissions
Depending on your needs, with MPLC, you can choose between two types of film licenses to authorize your screenings:
The annual license (Blanket License), perfect if your intent is to screen films as a complementary activity to the primary and usual activities. Some examples can be: entertaining reading groups in libraries “from the book… to the film”; movie nights to entertain guests of hotels, RSAs, campsites, bars and restaurants; content in the background of receptions or staff break rooms.
The single screening license (Event License), suitable for those who want to organize a film event during which the screening of the film represents the central moment. These are real cinematic shows, such as: open-air cinema; movies under the stars; film forums and film festivals; cinema evenings in the arena; films in the square. These events can be the subject of promotional and communication activities to the public.
How much does it cost to screen films with the Blanket License?
The Blanket Licence lets you legally show films when they’re a side activity—not the main focus—of your organisation’s events
The license has the following characteristics:
- It has a duration of 12 months from the date of activation
- Authorize an unlimited number of viewings throughout the year
- No reporting of projections made
- The visions must be addressed to a limited group of participants (e.g. library members, members of an association, etc.)
- Screenings must be free and film titles must not be advertised externally
The factors that determine the tariff
Sector: the cost varies according to the company that intends to activate the license. Some of the main sectors that make use of the Blanket license are: associations, libraries, parishes, bars and hotels, municipal halls, campsites, universities, accommodation facilities, healthcare facilities and corporate offices.
Size: it is a parameter that in turn takes on a specific connotation based on the type of reality that requires the license; by way of example, it can take into consideration the number of registered members, the number of rooms in a hotel, the administration area of a room.
How much does it cost to screen films with the Event License?
The cost of a film license, and therefore of the license for a single event, starts from HK$ 8,150.00.
This type of authorisation has the following characteristics:
- Authorizes the single projection, intended as a single viewing
- There are no restrictions on the public type
- Allows you to provide free or paid admission (ticketing)
- It allows you to publicly promote the event and the details of the films that will be screened once the Certificate of License has been obtained
Conclusion
To get more information about the MPLC Licence, you can fill out the contact form or call +852 3596 5857.
公開放映電影是吸引及娛樂觀眾的絕佳方式，無論是為活動、學校電影之夜或籌款活動而設。然而，一個鮮為人知的方面是合法放映電影所需的授權費用。本文將詳細探討公開放映電影授權的費用構成、各類授權類型、影響費用的因素，並提供實際案例以助您了解預期成本。
電影授權與權利
公開放映電影需獲得電影作品及配樂使用權所有者的授權。此舉對於遵守版權法及確保內容創作者因其作品使用而獲得公平報酬至關重要。未經適當授權的公開放映屬非法行為，可能導致民事及刑事方面的嚴重後果。
Motion Picture Licensing Company（MPLC）是負責發放視聽作品公開表演授權的國際機構。MPLC為公開放映提供電影授權，涵蓋超過20,000部作品的目錄，旨在簡化並加速授權申請流程。
電影授權費用
公開放映電影所需授權的費用因多項因素而異，並基於多個參數進行評估。首要考慮因素是舉辦放映活動的目的：電影放映可以是活動的核心，或作為主要活動的輔助及補充項目。此項區分是確定授權費用的基礎，有助於選擇最適合活動特性的授權類型。
授權類型
根據需求，MPLC提供兩種電影授權類型，以確保放映活動合法進行：
- 年度授權（綜合授權）
適合將電影放映作為主要日常活動的輔助項目。適用場景包括：圖書館讀書會的「從書本到電影」娛樂放映；酒店、養老院、露營地、酒吧及餐廳的電影之夜；堂區或教會的宗教活動輔助放映；以及俱樂部、文化協會、老年大學等組織的電影晚會。 - 單次放映授權（活動授權）
適合以電影放映為核心的活動，例如露天電影、星空電影、電影論壇、電影節、廣場電影等。此類活動可進行公開宣傳及推廣。
綜合授權的放映費用
綜合授權允許在符合版權法規的情況下，進行與主要活動相關的電影放映。其特點如下：
- 有效期為啟用後12個月
- 允許全年無限次放映
- 無需報告放映詳情
- 放映對象需為特定群體（如圖書館會員、協會成員等）
- 放映必須免費，且不得對外宣傳電影名稱
費用決定因素
- 行業類型：費用因申請授權的機構類型而異，適用行業包括協會、圖書館、堂區、酒吧、酒店、市政廳、露營地、大學、住宿設施、遊戲室等。
- 規模：根據機構類型，考慮因素包括會員數量、酒店房間數量、場地面積等。
活動授權的放映費用
單次活動授權的費用起價為港幣8,150元。其特點如下：
- 授權單次放映
- 對觀眾類型無限制
- 允許免費或收費入場（售票）
- 取得授權證書後，可公開宣傳活動及電影詳情
結語
欲了解更多關於MPLC授權的資訊，請填寫聯繫表單或致電查詢。