20 October 2026

Copyright and audio-visual content: five questions to ask before you press publish

By Naomi Korn, CEO

Media-rich content can be engaging, informative and comprehensive. But did you know that a single audio-visual recording can contain a surprising number of rights?

The footage, script, music, photographs and graphics may all be protected separately. Performers may have their own rights, while privacy, data protection and contractual restrictions can add further complexity. This means that for anyone creating, preserving, licensing or reusing audio-visual material, knowing where to begin can feel daunting. Our practical Copyright and Audio-Visual Content course is designed to make that process clearer and more manageable for you. We have constructed the course to help you hit the ground running, and navigate potential complexities, helping you to ask the right questions to get to the right answers. We’ve given you a little taster below of what our course covers:

1. What rights exist within the content?

Audio-visual material is rarely just one copyright work. A film, broadcast or online video may contain layers of protected content, including:

• scripts and spoken words;
• music and sound recordings;
• photographs, artwork and graphics;
• performances; and
• archive or third-party footage.

The course explores these different layers, who might own them and why clearing the rights in each layer of content is necessary.

2. Can a copyright exception apply?

Not every use requires permission. UK copyright law includes exceptions and limitations that can enable certain activities, such as preservation, quotation and use on dedicated terminals. However, exceptions have specific conditions. Many also depend on whether the proposed use qualifies as fair dealing.

During the course, we examine the exceptions that may apply to audio-visual material and help you to develop a more confident, risk-aware approach. The aim is not simply to memorise rules, but to recognise the questions that should be asked before relying on an exception.

3. Is the material genuinely cleared for reuse?

A licence for one form of use may not cover another. Content originally cleared for broadcast, for example, may not automatically be available for online, worldwide or on-demand use. Understanding terminology such as non-linear rights, geo-blocking, cue sheets and contributors’ agreements can therefore make a substantial difference when assessing whether content can be reused.

During the course, we will introduce you to the practical language of audio-visual rights management and considers how accurate records can support future access, licensing and commercial opportunities.

4. What happens when a rights holder cannot be found?

Archival collections often contain material with incomplete or missing rights information. Orphan works – works in copyright whereby rights holders are unknown or cannot be traced – can create difficult decisions: should an organisation avoid using them altogether, or could the risk be managed responsibly?

We explore the risks surrounding orphan audio-visual works and the role of research, documentation, governance and proportionate risk management. Attendees will consider how to reach defensible decisions rather than allowing uncertainty to bring valuable projects to a halt.

5. What permissions and licences might be needed?

Rights clearance can involve numerous contributors and organisations—from performers, producers and directors to music publishers, record labels and collective management organisations. Knowing whom to approach, what information to gather and which uses need to be covered can save considerable time later.

Through practical scenarios, you will consider rights clearance for activities such as commissioning films, publishing content online, licensing archive footage and screening films at events.

Practical learning for real-world decisions

This is an interactive course featuring quizzes, discussion, group scenarios and opportunities to ask questions. It is intended to help you build practical confidence.

By the end of the course, you will be better equipped to:

• recognise the different rights within audio-visual content;
• assess whether a copyright exception might apply;
• understand essential rights-management terminology;
• identify potential licensing and clearance issues; and
• ask the right questions before using, sharing or preserving content.

The course is particularly relevant to people working in archives, museums, libraries, education, charities, broadcasting and cultural heritage, as well as anyone commissioning or managing audio-visual content.

If copyright questions are delaying projects, or if your organisation wants to make better-informed decisions about its audio-visual collections, this course offers a clear and practical place to start.

Join us on 4 November, 9:30am-1pm, to strengthen your understanding, test your thinking and approach audio-visual rights with greater confidence. Book your place here, or email info@naomikorn.com for more information.