Licence Application

Overview

Reproduction of Copyrighted Recorded Music

Copyrighted materials intended for commercial uses require a licence from MRSS. These materials include karaoke, music videos and recorded music that are owned or exclusively licensed to the record companies represented by MRSS.

Licences from MRSS allow operators to lawfully reproduce, store and exhibit copyrighted materials in public. Failure to apply for a licence or to renew an expired licence, is a violation and infringement of copyrights. In addition to being sued for civil liability, an infringer may be prosecuted for statutory offences under Section 136 of the Copyright Act of Singapore. For each infringement, the maximum fine is $20,000 or a maximum imprisonment term of 2 years.

Types of Licences

  • Public Performance Rights

An MRSS licence is required by any public venue including any Shopping Centre, Retail Shop, Restaurant and Café that plays karaoke and music videos on a TV monitor.

  • Reproduction Rights

An entertainment outlet such as a Karaoke or a Pub that plays videos-on-demand on a TV monitor in a public place requires an MRSS licence. This applies to any form of karaoke and music videos that have been re-recorded and reproduced on a hard disc or a computerised storage system.

  • Broadcasting Rights

An entertainment outlet such as a Karaoke or a Pub that plays music-on-demand in a public place requires an MRSS licence. This applies to any sound recording which has been re-recorded and reproduced on a hard disc or a computerised storage system.

  • Broadcasting of Music Videos

  • Simulcast and Cable Transmissions

Media companies require an MRSS licence for any of the following:

  1. Telecast of Music Videos
  2. Transmission on Cable TV of Music Videos
  3. Simulcast of Music Videos and Sound Recordings via the Internet and on Cable TV
  4. Internet Radio Webcasting
  5. Re-recording and Reproduction of karaoke video and other music videos on Cable TV

Application Process

HOW TO APPLY?

01

Complete and submit application forms

Download the respective application form for your business/ activity. If you are agreeable with the terms & conditions, submit the completed form to us by email.

02

Application will be reviewed by our officers

If you have any enquiries in filling the form, feel free to contact us. To speak with an officer, please email us for an appointment between 9am – 5pm, Monday to Fridays. Learn more in our FAQ section.

03

License will be granted upon payment

The applicant will be notified by email once the application is approved. Payment must be made before the official license is granted along with the licence certificate.

Tariffs/ Forms

Quick Facts

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Q: What is Reproduction?

Karaoke / Music Videos within a computer or machine readable machine file or files and the use thereof entailed the storage of the said file or files onto a hard disk or other media storage for the purposes of reproduction. When a user requested a particular song, the appropriate file would then be retrieved, processed by the Karaoke On Demand (KOD)  computerised system, and inter alia, cinematographic films of karaoke and/or music videos would be fed and played to the console or screen in the room or location within the business premises from which the request had emanated.

Q: What is CMO?

A Collective Management Organisation is generally formed or appointed by copyright holders to manage the rights in their copyright works. Collective Management Organisations are appointed by copyright holders to administer the licensing of rights, collection of royalties and enforcement of rights on their behalf.

Failure to renew the license is a violation of copyrights

Any person or establishment who reproduces, without licence, cinematographic films belonging to the record companies that MRSS represents will be violating and infringing copyrights. Apart from civil liability, the infringer may also be prosecuted for statutory offences under section 136 of the Copyright Act, and upon conviction, may be fined up to $20,000.00 for each infringement; or be subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years for each infringement.

MRSS | Music Rights Singapore