15 April 2026
Understanding copyright in audio visual works
By Sean Waterman, Head of Intellectual Property
Most audio-visual works that combine images with sound will qualify for copyright protection as films, which are defined as any recording onto a medium from which a moving image can be produced. They can range from professionally produced feature films to short amateur home movies or audio-visual recordings of lectures.
Of the 8 categories of creative works protected by copyright, films are arguably the most complicated. The copyright in a film applies separately to the copyright and the term of protection for any works or performances which are included in a film. Therefore, it is important to consider any underlying rights that may exist in the components of a film. These may include any copyright held by composers, script writers or copyright holders to artistic or other audio-visual works included in a film as well as the performers’ rights of actors and musicians.
Understanding the complex layers of copyright and other rights associated with audio visual works is vital for cultural institutions that hold them in their archives or any for organisation that commissions the production of new audio-visual works.
I will be leading Naomi Korn Associates’ next date of our intermediate level Copyright and Audio-Visual Content course, on Wednesday 6th May 9:30am-1pm, worth 3 CPD points from CPD UK. This course is perfect for participants who work with film and/or sound recordings. It is designed to help them learn more about how copyright relates to audio visual material. Participants should already have a basic understanding of copyright. Book now via the link above or contact our Training Manager at info@naomikorn.com.
Each of our intermediate courses can be taken as an individual course or as part of our Intermediate Certificate (available in Copyright and in Data Protection). For further information, please see our ‘Certification and Accreditation’ page. If you have any queries or would like to get in touch, please reach out to our Training Manager at info@naomikorn.com.