A video copy of cinematographic works is a copy on any video medium of a cinematographic work initially intended for showing in theatres or on television, except concerts, musical comedies, variety shows, video clips, physical exercise shows and any other work with a music/creation ratio of less than 60/40.

A tariff was officially authorized by the Copyright Board of Canada and covers all video copy distributors in Canada. This tariff will remain in effect until a new one is authorized, retroactive to its application date.

What rights does this license authorize ?

This license authorizes you, as a video copy distributor of audiovisual works, to:

• Reproduce a musical work from the SODRAC repertoire that is already synchronized to an audiovisual work, on any video medium, and is intended for sale or rental to a Canadian consumer for private use.

Unauthorized use under the Tariff:

• It is prohibited to commit or reproduce a musical work in an audiovisual work that has not already been incorporated;
• The distributor may not provide a video copy free of charge.

How to obtain a license

You are automatically granted a license after paying the royalties foreseen in the Tariff. The Tariff applies to all video copy distributors in Canada.

Reports to provide

Under the Tariff, you must fill out a report and send it to us by January 31 of every year for the period spanning from July 1 to December 31 of the previous year, and by July 31 of every year for the period spanning from January 1 to June 30 of the same year.

You must also provide the following information:

• A copy of the video copy’s back cover if the name of the composers of all musical works integrated into the audiovisual work are listed;
• If this is not the case, a video copy of the audiovisual work;
• and, if available, the cue sheet report.

Click here to get a copy of the report to fill out. If you have any questions, please contact the Tariff agent at 514 845-3268, ext. 234.

Royalties

Current Tariff

For video copies of cinematographic works initially intended for showings in theatres or on television (from 2004 to 2008):

• 1.2% of the gross revenues for the delivery of a video copy containing at least one work in the SODRAC repertoire, regardless of the number of works in the video. Please note that the SODRAC repertoire includes both national and international works.

Other types of video copies

• To learn of the tariff and conditions for reproducing musical video copies with:
• Show and/or concert captions;
• Video clips;
• Variety shows;
• Physical exercise shows;
• Documentaries on music, artists and/or composers.

Click here

• For all other types of video copies, please contact the Manager, Audiovisual Department, at 514-845-3268, ext. 227.

Proposed 2009-2012 Tariff

For copies intended for private use, a distributor shall pay to SODRAC:

• 1.2% of its distribution revenues or an amount of $0.08 per copy, whichever amount is higher, for each copy delivered for sale that contains a work from the repertoire in the feature presentation
• 1.2% of its distribution revenues or an amount of $0.36, per copy, whichever amount is higher, for each copy delivered for rental that contains a work from the repertoire in the feature presentation

In the case of copies used in theatres, a distributor pays to SODRAC:

• 1.2% of distribution revenues

Specific conditions

If the video copy was not initially produced for showings in theatres or on television, you must obtain at any time authorization from SODRAC. Even if this type of use is not specifically foreseen by the current Tariff, all reproduction of a musical work included in the SODRAC repertoire must be authorized under the Copyright Act, according to SODRAC’s usual conditions.