Copyright, Royalties, and Licensing

Like other written and artistic property, plays and musicals are covered by copyright law. But what does that mean, and what is protected? This guide will offer an overview of basic copyright and royalties and why companies must license a show before production.

Terminology

• Blanket License: A type of performance license that grants a company or venue permission to play or perform music without applying for individual rights.
• Commission: An agreement between a playwright and a theatre group to write a show, sometimes requiring specific criteria to be met (such as subject matter, cast size, or genre).
• Contract: The agreement between a theatre licensor and a theatre company that grants permission to produce a show.
• Copyright: Ownership (and recognition of the ownership) of intellectual property, literature, art, and music.
• Licensing: Permissions granted from a publishing or licensing company for a theatre to produce a show licensed by the company.
• Public Domain: Description of material not protected by copyright law.
• Rental: Typically associated with musicals, the fees for librettos, music scores, and other relevant materials that must be returned after the completion of the show.
• Royalty: The fees paid to the originator (playwright, composer, etc.) of a work, as a part of or in addition to the licensing fees paid to the publisher or licensor.
• Security Deposit: A fee that secures the rights for a theatre company to produce a show.