AV authorisations given by authors and performing artists of TV programmes

With the Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors, authors and performing artists transfer the organisations representing them the right to manage the use of their works in situations where a large number of people make use of a large number of audiovisual works.

Examples of such uses include:

• the use of TV and radio programmes in teaching
• retransmission of TV programmes
• recording of TV programmes in recording services
• the public performance of audiovisual works
• non-commercial use of recordings of TV programmes.

Why should you enter into a Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors?

By entering into a Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors, you ensure that you will receive remunerations for the use of your audiovisual works, both now and also in the future, when the usage of works changes.

In practice, it would be impossible for an individual author or performing artist to manage the licences for the large-scale use of their works by themselves. This agreement gives Kopiosto the right to manage the use of your audiovisual works on your behalf in the agreed circumstances. With authorisation from our member organisations, we will handle the licensing and monitoring of use and the collection and distribution of remunerations on your behalf.

Audiovisual authors’ organisations recommend entering into a Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors.

Enter into an agreement via Kopiosto´s Authorisation Service

You can enter into a Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors with the following Kopiosto member organisations:

• Society of Swedish Authors in Finland
• Association of Finnish Film Directors (SELO)
• Union of Film and Media Employees Finland
• The Union of Journalists in Finland (UJF)
• The Union of Finnish Writers
• The Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters (SKTL)
• The Professional Make-up Artists of Finland
• Writers Guild of Finland
• Finnish Actors Union
• Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland

What should you bear in mind when entering into a Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors?

The Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors applies to the extensive use of works, primarily in situations that are not part of the production company’s core activities. Once you have entered into a Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors and granted exclusive rights to an audiovisual authors’ organisation, you may no longer grant those same rights to other parties, such as production companies. When entering into new agreements with production or broadcasting companies, remember to mention that you have signed a Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors. It is advisable to include a clause such as the following in agreements:

“This agreement does not apply to any rights that the author has transferred to an audiovisual authors’ organisation under the Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors or through the Grant of Rights for Audiovisual Authors.”

A Copyright Agreement for Audiovisual Authors is valid until further notice. The agreement will not expire upon termination of your membership in the organisation, for instance. If necessary, you can edit the authorisation, such as by adding or removing an author position or category of rights, or terminate the agreement in its entirety.

With a Grant of Rights for Audiovisual Authors, you authorise the Kopiosto member organisation of your choice to grant licences on your behalf for the recording and use of your audiovisual works. With authorisation from our member organisations, we will look after your rights and interests with regard to the use of TV programmes. Additionally, we will handle the licensing and monitoring of use and the collection and distribution of remunerations on your behalf.

You can give a Grant of Rights for Audiovisual Authors to the following Kopiosto member organisations:

• Finnish Animation Guild
• Finnfoto
• FOT Freelance Media Workers
• Grafia – Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland
• Finnish Society of Cinematographers
• The Finnish Union of authors writing for children, youngsters and young adults

A Grant of Rights for Audiovisual Authors is valid until further notice. The agreement will not expire upon termination of your membership in the organisation, for instance. If necessary, you can edit the authorisation, such as by adding or removing an author position or category of rights, or terminate the Grant of Rights in its entirety.

An AV Grant of Rights does not affect your employment contracts or any associated copyrights, or any agreements that you have entered into with your clients or your employer.

AV authorisations are always given for specific categories of rights. The category of rights determines which rights Kopiosto can monitor for you and the types of use of works for which Kopiosto can grant licences on your behalf.

Read more about the categories of rights included in an AV authorisation given to Kopiosto