CLASS focuses on licensing and administering the copyright for works that have text and images to anyone who wishes to use relevant works and collecting and distributing royalties to the rights-owners of these works.
As Licensing Managers of CLASS, we support various sectors with copyright compliance, including organisations from the educational and business sectors. Our job serves as the bridge between our members who are the rightful owners to their work and our licensees who uses the work.
Here is a glimpse into the world of Intellectual Property (IP) Protection through the lens of a Copyright Licensing Manager.
Why People Don’t Think They Require a Copyright Licence?
One of the main challenges we encounter is none other than the perception that obtaining a copyright licensing is unnecessary or irrelevant to their organisations.
Based on our experiences via conversations with organisations, here are some reasons why:
1. “Everything on the Internet is Free”
- Many employees, or even employers themselves, have this belief that everything on the Internet is free to use because they are publicly available online and very easily accessible.
2. Not Clear or Not Aware of Copyright Laws
- Some organisations assume that their internal or non-monetisation use exempts them from any copyright obligations.
- Sometimes we also encounter employers who are not aware that they are liable for their own employee’s actions. Their reasoning is always from the angle that they are not aware of such a law.
- There are some that even questions if it is necessary because “all these years, there have been no issues!”
3. “I paid for a subscription, so I have the rights to use”
- Most assume that because they have a subscription, that they have the right to use the contents. Subscription and Licence are two separate matters. A subscription allows access to exclusive contents for viewing. A licence allows usage of the content for work.
- Many platforms, especially news/analytical platforms, have clear subscription and licensing terms. Reading the Terms of Use provides clarity on what you are paying for.
The reality is, neither of these reasons changes the fact that copyright law automatically protects a work the moment it is created, whether it’s published online or not. This means that without an explicit licence from the copyright holder, using that work, whether you found it on the Internet for “free” or simply weren’t aware of the rules, is an act of infringement. Just because no one in Singapore has made the headlines on copyright infringement, does not mean that digital theft is not a punishable offence.
Therefore, explaining that copyright exists to protect creators, publishers, and rightsholders, and that licensing ensures fair and legal access, can indeed be an uphill task. Think of it this way: You very likely already own copyrighted content such as your social media posts. Would you allow a corporate company exploit it for profits without your permission?
A simple shift in perspective is the first step toward embracing the purpose of copyright compliance. If you’re interested to know more about copyright compliance, contact CLASS at info@class-singapore.com for more information!
– Licensing Managers of CLASS