Movie licensing is necessary for films that are widely distributed, as they are needed to show a film in a public setting, such as a movie theater or conference. Film licensing companies have experts that work with film producers to provide the right licensing for businesses and events. A film license requires that studios collect fees for a movie, unless they decide there is a benefit to free licensing.

In order to work with a film licensing company, you need to know how licensing movies works, as well as how to file for a video license to show a movie at an event. You can find many resources for film licensing education and training, including:

1. Articles that explain the skills needed for licensing movies.

2. Training seminars that allow you to network with others in the industry.

3. A film licensing company that provides legal and business expertise.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read industry articles to learn more about film copyright licensing

One way to learn about film copyright licensing is to read articles written by experts in the field. Some provide tips for negotiating licensing fees, while other articles walk you through some rules and regulations to you'll encounter when you go through the process of obtaining licensing.

I recommend: Film Specific provides an article that explains some of the best negotiation techniques to use when licensing a film. Entertainment Law Resources provides a comprehensive article on licensing and distribution rights for independent filmmakers.

Look for film licensing organizations that can teach you more about film license agreements

Film licensing companies and industry groups are an expert source for film licensing education and training. These companies know all the rules and regulations that apply in this industry. They can also point you to other resources if you need additional information on obtaining licensing for any type of movie or venue.

I recommend: The Motion Picture Association of America runs outreach programs to educate the public on film licensing and copyright issues. The Rights Workshop provides representation and educational seminars for those who need advice on film and music licensing. Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts provides workshops that cover a variety of issues in the entertainment industry, including legal issues in filmmaking. The American Bar Association's Entertainment and Sports Law Forum hosts an annual seminar on film licensing and other entertainment rights issues.

Learn more about filming licensing through industry seminars

The film industry in the United States and around the world is huge. Due to the demand, there are many opportunities for those who want to learn more about film licensing from experts. Many film festivals and trade shows have licensing seminars or panel discussions because to address copyright laws as they evolve with expanding technology.

I recommend: The American Film Market is the big event of the year for independent film licensing, and its seminars a great place to get up to speed on the business. The Buffalo-Niagra Film Festival offers seminars and educational sessions for all types of filmmakers and film distributors. Topics include licensing, distribution and entertainment law. Film Synergy Magic provides seminars for filmmakers that cover distribution and marketing films.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To work for a film licensing agency a law degree is helpful, but not always necessary if you know how copyright laws apply to licensing film.

Licensing film can be a tricky process, but it is a legal requirement if you want to show any movie in your place of business. It is possible to get licensing for one film at a time or for a group of films depending on your needs.

The fees for licensing movies will vary based on the movies you want to show, where and when they will be played and how many times a film will be screened. Some film studios provide free licensing for companies that will benefit their movie with widespread publicity

Film licensing companies help your business get the rights to show any film you are interested in. When you work with these companies, you will be able to:

1. Purchase the film licensing rights to show a particular movie one time;

2. Get a blanket movie license agreement that will allow you to show a variety of films as often as you want;

3. Request movies before they are commercially available;

4. Receive promotional materials for the film you will be showing.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get an umbrella film license

Companies that intend to show several movies would benefit from an umbrella license deal. This will give them the rights to a large library of films instead of one particular movie. There will be an annual fee to maintain the umbrella license, but it will allow them to show any movie that is part of the agreement as many times as they want.

I recommend: Talk to the people at Motion Picture Licensing or Criterion Pictures about an umbrella license.

Obtain film licensing for public performances

Venues that are known as non-theatrical markets include any public or non-profit business that may wish to show a movie to the public without charging an entry fee. The non-theatrical term simply implies that they are not a licensed cinema or theater group. These venues include schools, libraries hospitals and even transportation-related businesses such as public transit trains, airlines and cruise ships.

I recommend: Movie Licensing USA, which is a division of Swank Motion Pictures, provides public performance licensing for K-12 schools as well as public libraries. Exhibitor Licensing USA, also a division of Swank, offers performance licenses for trade shows, conventions and corporate events. On-Board Movies, another Swank division, works with cruise ships that are in need of public performance film licensing.

Receive film copyright licensing for video clips

Video clips are short pieces of film that can be used as promotional materials or as a part of a commercial advertisement created by a small production company. The clips are available in most any style or category imaginable and can be purchased singularly or in bulk.

I recommend: Find the video clip licensing you need from Hollywood Licensing and Benchmark Rich Media.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When your business is ready to start licensing movies, work with a company that represents a large number of motion picture studios to save both time and money.
• •  Work with a film licensing agency that will allow you to edit a film for content if it is to be shown to people of all ages. The editing allowances will include nudity, violence, language and sexual content.

Film licensing can be tricky to accomplish and even trickier to understand when it comes to the language and jargon people in the industry use. However, by understanding film licensing terminology, individuals interested in the trade can learn more about the process and the occupational field at large. There's a number of aspects to be aware of when it comes to film licensing, and the topics may adhere to any number of the nuances that present themselves in the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Distribution

Distribution refers to the selling, licensing or renting of a film to various markets. These markets for films may include, but are in no way limited to, theatrical releases, home video, cable station broadcasts and other comparable television markets, both domestic and overseas. Distributors, in charge of the distribution of film materials, may specialize in individual markets, but some will cover the distribution of materials to all possible markets.

I recommend: Microsoft.com explores film industry opportunities with respect to digital media distribution.

Presale

Generally, people use the word presale when referring to licenses that will take place overseas. Presale licenses will license all or some of the rights to a film or film project prior to its completion. Rather, presale licensing occurs before a company produces the film or while it's in the process of production.

I recommend: Movie Distribution Facts discusses how organizations can potentially finance their films, including through presale film options.

Blanket license

Companies use blanket licenses in order to allow the use of public performances of all of the music and songs that are in the catalog of the society. There are more than eight million songs in the repertory of the ASCAP, and licensees who pay an annual fee for their blanket license may use the songs and music as much or as little as they like. Some of the benefits of the blanket license include the fact that users save time on a great deal of paperwork, and there is no need to negotiate licenses with all of the individual copyright holders.

I recommend: MusicThinkTank.com discusses the debate raging around blanket licenses and their legitimacy.

Music supervisor

The music supervisor of a film manages the licenses of any and all songs and music used in the film's productions. Additionally, this individual or entity is responsible for handling music clearance as well as the rights licensing existing music.

I recommend: GoodNightKiss.com offers a brief glimpse into the life of a music supervisor, including the realities of the job and what is required of such an individual.

Performing-rights license

A performing-rights license authorizes the use of a song for public performances. In most cases, an organization grants this type of license under a section of its blanket license.

I recommend: MediaPositiveRadio.com discusses performing-rights licenses and when they are necessary.

Retransmission

When a company sends a piece, such as a film or show on television, from one device to another, this is transmission. If the company then sends the material on to yet another location, this transition is a retransmission.

I recommend: ScreenRights.org explores film retransmission royalties.