Copyright for Performers and Public Events

Music in Public

If you organise an event or concert at which music will be heard in public, you normally must obtain permission from the copyright owners of the music. This is required whether you use live performers or a sound recording of the music, and whether you charge an entry fee or not. Even if students are performing the music as part of their assessment, if parents or other members of the public are admitted, you need copyright owner permission. 
Events organised by student organisations such as student unions and guilds that have a separate legal entity from the University are not covered by University licences. Such organisations are responsible for obtaining their own licences.

Films and videos in public

If you are organising a screening of a video or film, you need to get copyright owner permission. This applies whether you charge an entry fee or not. Apply to the film distributor in the first instance. If you hire the film from the distributor with the stated intention of public screening, the licence fee is usually included in the hire charge.

Some Netflix original educational documentaries are available for public educational screenings. To find out which titles are available for educational screenings, visit https://media.netflix.com/en/ and search for the title. Titles that are available for screening will display either the following Grant of Permission or an Educational Screenings Permission on their details page. Tip: You need to be logged into your account to view the details, and on a browser, rather than in the mobile app.

Dramatic works in public

If you wish to organise a public performance of a play, dramatic musical work, or dance work, you need to get permission from the rights holders. You may have to do some investigation to find out who they are and you should secure the permission well in advance of your planned performance. It would be very disappointing to have your production cancelled at the last minute because rights were not obtained.

Torrens University Australia has an Education and Training Providers Music Licence with the Australian music collecting societies (APRA, AMCOS, PPCA and ARIA) which allows for a range of specified uses of live and recorded music on campuses and at approved events.

• Play music at Campus Facilities, including restaurants and clinics
• Play or perform music at Approved Events by the Provider, Staff or Students
• Make audio or audio-visual recordings of Approved Events run by the Provider that include music
• Include music in audio or audio visual content produced for the Provider’s websites or internal platforms
• Play music on Provider’s telephone on-hold system
• Live stream Approved Events that include music and upload audio or audio-visual recordings of Approved Events on the Provider’s websites, internal platforms or upload to the Provider’s own social media channels
• Share audio or audio-visual content with the Provider’s community via email, private message or internal platforms
• Upload and stream audio and audiovisual content with students and staff on Provider’s websites and internal platforms

However, at this time, the agreed terms of the licence do not extend to the use of music in the formal coursework curriculum, so music uploaded to module content on MyLearn should only be royalty-free, Creative Commons, or used with specific permission of all relevant copyright owners.