The
LibreFree Performance Licenses
A free world-wide broadcast and performance license.
Libre-Free-1
Recording and broadcast performance license
Libre-Free-2
Recording,
broadcast and live
performance license
Libre-Free-3
Artist and Venue Live performance license
Soon: LibreFree-4 Recording,
broadcast, Internet stream and live performance license
Libre-Free-1 Recording and broadcast performance license
Terms and conditions:
1. The LibreFree logo can be freely used and copied by any music copyright owner to denote that a LibreFree license has been issued for a musical work in a music recording device. A recording device is whatever device is specified on the license, for example a CD or a DVD.
2. Copies of the license are issued to the producer of the recording and the performer.
3. A LibreFree-1 license can be issued by any music copyright owner that represents all owners for selected works as part of a mechanical license for a musical work.
Notes to authors:4. A LibreFree-1 license authorizes anyone who has acquired a LIBRE licensed recording device to broadcast and webcast and play the music on radio, television, Internet, jukeboxes, shops, offices and any public place up to the time that the license expires.
- If the rights to a musical work have been assigned to a publisher or if the work is registered with a performance rights organization, in an exclusive manner, it is possible that you may not license the work with a LibreFree license until such assignment or registration is terminated.
- If more than one person owns the copyright, The issued LibreFree license must be authorized by all owners. While in the U.S.A. performance rights organizations issue licenses on behalf of a part owner (a questionable practice), for other parts of the world all owners must be represented in the license.
5. License expiration: The LibreFree licensees
will include, on the mechanical devices, year numbers to specify start
and or expiration dates for the public performance use of the devices.
This
is done by adding the following that is according to the date limits given
on the license by the copyright owner:
a. "2005". Year number for year the license
was issued. This year is given when the performance license never expires.
b. "2005-2010", where the numbers represent
start and end years of the license. The license ends on the last
day of the end year.
6. Attribution: Radio and television stations and other venues where the licensed work is performed shall announce the name of the the author immediately prior or immediately after the performance.
7. A LibreFree-1 license may not restrict the performance or playing of the recording device in any manner. For example, a license may not specify that the license is for a country or region only. The LibreFree licenses are valid for the entire world.
8. A LibreFree-1 license may be for one or many recordings, as defined by the copyright owner.
9. LibreFree-1 licensed works can be combined with non-LIBRE licensed works in one recording device. If a recording device has a mix of LIBRE-1 and non LIBRE-1 licensed works it is suggested that the LIBRE logo be shown once with an asterisk (*) and each LIBRE-1 licensed work be marked with an asterisk (*).
10. The LibreFree-1 license alone does not authorize the copying of music files.
11. The LibreFree-1 license does not authorize the placing of music files for downloading on the Internet.
12. Licenses issued with the LibreFree logo and terms may include additional limitations or allowances that the copyright owner may specify.
13. Cost: There is no cost for the license to the end user (broadcasters. etc.) but because of the added value on the recording, the copyright owner may charge more for the mechanical license's royalty rate for the recording.
Notes to owner of copyright:14. Attribution: Upon recording and performance, the licensed work shall be attributed to the author(s) of the work.
- By including a LibreFree license, the sales of recording may be increase because of the natural promotion that will occur each time the song is performed. Therefore it may not be necessary to increase the royalty rate in order to optimize income.
15. The LibreFree-1 license is not confidential and may be freely copied to others by the record producer, the performer or the licenser.
16. The LibreFree-1 license does not authorize the redording of performance of a work in a way that the nature, melody, tempo, lyrics, name of the of the work are changed.
17. The use of the LibreFree logo and the words "LibreFree-1 license" on the recording device is recommended to facilitate the identification of the musical works that may be freely performed and played.
18. A copy of this page or text may be included with a LibreFree license.
19. This page may be linked by anyone or
copied and included in a web page as long as no changes are made, other
than a translation to another language. In all cases a link must be maintained
to the official LibreFree web site.
LibreFree-2
Live recording and performance license
Terms and conditions:
1. All terms and conditions of LibreFree-1
shall apply for the playing and broadcasting of the recording.
2. The primary performer (singer, band,
chorus, etc.) is licensed to perform the licensed work live with no restrictions
or whatever restrictions are included in the license.
Some examples of restrictions:
- for performances in free
concerts only
- for concerts in concerts
halls with less than 1,000 seat capacity
- not for television
- for two year duration
- for a certain region or
country only
- for named club or restaurant
only
- A payment of $____ required
for television per song.
- etc.
3. The use of the LibreFree logo and the words "LibreFree-2 license" on the recording device is recommended to facilitate the identification of the musical works that may be freely performed and played, be it through the recording or by live performance.
4. A copy of the LibreFree-2 license shall be given to the performer so that the performer can prove the right to perform the licensed works.
Note to performers:5. The LibreFree-2 license is not confidential and may be freely copied to others by the record producer, the performer or the licenser.
As evidence that you have a license to perform LibreFree-2 licensed works, you may copy the venue the LibreFree-2 license.
LibreFree-3
Artist and Venue Live performance license
Terms and conditions:
For the live performances only . This
license may be issued to artists and to venues. Some restrictions
may be included in the license. Some examples of restrictions:
- for performances in free
concerts only
- for concerts in concerts
halls with less than 1,000 seat capacity
- not for television
- for a specified duration
(or with an expiration date)
- for a certain region or
country only
- for named club or restaurant
only
- A payment of $____ required
for television performance per song.
Attribution: Upon performance, the licensed work shall be attributed to the author(s) of the work.
The theory behind this license is that the works are more likely to be performed and thus more likely to be recorded and used in a paying environment.
LibreFree-4
Recording broacast license
Terms and conditions:
For the public performance over radio.
This license may be issued to record companies. Some restrictions
may be included in the license. Some examples of restrictions:
- for a specified duration
(or with an expiration date)
- for a certain region or
country only
Attribution: Upon performance, the licensed work shall be attributed to the author(s) of the work.
The theory behind this license is that the works are more likely to be performed and thus more likely to be recorded and used in a paying environment.
Advantages:
For broadcasters:
LibreFree-4 and LibreFree-2 licenses provide
certainty that a recording may be broadcasted. All that is required is
to look at the recording device (CD, etc.) and if the music has the LibreFree-4
logo, it can be played with certainty that there is no copyright infringement.
Presently much music is not played because there is no clear way of determining
if the performance license that has been paid for covers the music. No
accounting or use logs required.
It should be noted that no known type of license (mechanical or performance) absolutely protects the licensee against fraudulent licenses, issued by those who do not own the copyrights. In that sense a LibreFree license is just as good as the confidence you have in the licenser regarding copyright ownership.
For composers and recording firms:
A LibreFree license is the method to have
the music played publicly more widely than through traditional performance
licenses.
For performers and venues:
With a LibreFree-2 license, certainty
that the recorded works can be performed live without the owner of the
venue having to have a prior license to allow the performance of the work.
When a recording is obtained, it is with a performance license.
With LibreFree-3, a prior recording is not required. A licensed artist or venue may perform the licensed works without any royalty payment and without the risk of infringing copyrights. All a performer has to do to sing songs in a venue is to give a copy of the license to the venue administrator, who will then know that the performer is authorized to perform the songs on the license.
For the public:
LibreFree licenses may result in a greater
variety of music played on radio and other places. Presently much music
is not played because there is no clear way of determining if the performance
license that has been paid for covers the music.
Cost
and payment
LibreFree licenses will specify who pays,
the amount paid and when payment is due. These terms are set by the issuer
of the license, on the license.
Logo:
The LibreFree logo is a copyright property
of Guillermo Venegas Lloveras Inc. but is made available for free use of
anyone who wishes to use it for the purpose of licensing music rights.
GVL Inc. plans to transfer the rights to the LIBRE logo to a volunteer,
non-profit organization that will hopefully have a web site and that will
have a voluntary register of LibreFree licensers and their contact addresses.
Then, possibly additional LibreFree licenses may be defined for different
terms and conditions. Until then, this page can be found at http://www.gvenegas.com
or on any page where this is copied.
Disclaimer: GVL Inc. is not responsible for the actions of LibreFree licensers or licensees and is in no way involved in the licensing process.
If you are interested in allowing the free sharing of recording files you own completely, including the music's copyrights, consider visiting the Creative Commons site: http://creativecommons.org. Please do not consider this an endorsement of the services provided by Crative Commons, a non-profit organization.