Music event scripts play a key role in the construction and completion of any specific music performance program. This is a document that event organizers invest a lot of time, effort, and financial resources to create. Music event scripts are a special type of intellectual property, bringing important commercial value. Therefore, protecting and managing copyrights for this script must be taken into account and implemented from the beginning, to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of event organizers. The following article from VCD will help you understand better.
1. Concept of music event script copyright
A script is considered a detailed record of the plot, characters, environment, developments, and other relevant details of an artistic work such as a play, television, or video game, mainly to guide and support the production team during the production process.
Usually, the script is composed by a playwright or editor and then edited and adjusted to suit the production process. Music event scripts are usually written in text form with dialogue describing scenes and actions placed in corresponding frames and columns including instructions for actors and production crew.
A music event is a community cultural event that aims at live singing and playing musical instruments, usually taking place on an entertaining theme.
Copyright of music event scripts is an intellectual property right for the creator of that script. Specifically, this is the author’s exclusive right to a literary work (script) expressed in writing or other symbols, detailing the content, sequence, duration, performances, participating artists, and other elements of a musical event.
A musical event script is the first step in the entire process of producing a musical event program. The script is generally one of the types of literary works and is also one of the subjects protected by copyright as specified in Clause 1, Article 14 of the Law on Intellectual Property. In which, the author who creates the script is often called a screenwriter.
2. Legal regulations on the copyright of music event scripts
Procedure for forming a music event script:
- Develop a detailed script: such as creating a logo, designing a theme, creating detailed content, time for each performance, etc.
- Implementation: need to carry out tasks such as applying for a performance license, contacting suppliers of tools, equipment, artists, MCs, renting a venue, and signing a contract. In addition, it is necessary to carry out advertising communications for the program with marketing strategies.
- Program management: includes 2 stages: stage 1 is preparing for the event and stage 2 is preparing for the closing stage of the event.
According to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 14 of the Law on Intellectual Property, music event scripts are protected by copyright in the form of literature, science, textbooks, teaching materials, and other works expressed in other written forms. The time of protection will arise from the time the musical event script for the product launch is created and expressed in writing. Thus, the musical event script will be automatically protected when created and expressed in writing without having to register with the Copyright Office. However, when there is a dispute over the copyright owner, the scriptwriter will also encounter difficulties, and spend effort, time, and money to prove the legitimate rights to that musical script. Therefore, to protect the musical event script from infringement, it is necessary to register the copyright with the Copyright Office.
The registration dossier includes:
- Application form for copyright registration for the script
- Authorization letter from the customer for the company to submit
- Two copies of the script to be registered for copyright printed on A4 paper and bound into a book
- Author’s guarantee
- Copy of the author’s ID card
- Consent document of co-authors if the script has co-authors
- 01 CD containing the script content
- Other documents depending on the content requested
Within 15 working days from the date of receiving all valid registration documents, the Copyright Office will issue a copyright registration protection certificate. If the registration documents are incomplete or invalid, the Copyright Office will send a written notice requesting additional information to the applicant (according to the provisions of Article 52 of the Law on Intellectual Property).
In addition, it is possible to transfer the music event script, it is completely possible to carry out contracts and commercial transactions for the script through the form of transferring or granting the right to use the script. The transfer of copyright for music event scripts is similar to other civil transactions, however, it is necessary to note that there is a certificate of copyright registration to legalize this transaction. In addition, it is necessary to note that the transfer can only be made to subjects of rights that can be transferred. The author’s rights cannot be transferred in any form, including The right to name the work; the real name or pen name on the work is stated in the real name or pen name when the work is published for use; and protecting the integrity of the work, not allowing others to edit, cut or distort the work in any form that harms the honor and reputation of the author.
VCD finds that copyright protection for music event scripts is extremely necessary. This is a document created with a lot of effort, time, and financial resources by the organizer, so it needs to be protected by intellectual property rights. Moreover, the music event script has high commercial value, and can bring important revenue, so copyright protection helps ensure financial benefits and increase brand value for the organizer.
