Usage rights
Usage rights govern what you may do with a finished film: on which channels, in which countries, for how long and for what purpose. They are the part of an offer most often skimmed and most expensively renegotiated.
The four questions behind every right
- Where: own website, social media, paid advertising, trade fairs, television, cinema, out-of-home.
- How long: limited to a campaign or unlimited in time.
- How far: one country, the German-speaking region or worldwide.
- How exclusive: simple, meaning alongside others, or exclusive, in which case even the agency may no longer use it.
What applies with us
On payment in full you receive a simple, worldwide and time-unlimited right of use for the purpose stated in the offer. Without a differing agreement that means your own digital channels including paid advertising on them. Television, cinema and out-of-home are agreed separately, because they carry different reach and different licence costs for music and voices.
Before payment in full, any use is a loan we can revoke. Drafts and unused variants stay with us. All of it is set out in our terms, section 5.
The part that gets forgotten
A film is not only images. Music, typefaces, archive footage and voice recordings carry their own licences, which can be narrower than your right to the film. A music licence for social media does not cover a television spot. So we record per project which tools and licences were in play and hand that list over.
With generated content the copyright question comes on top, and it is separate from the usage question.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the finished film?
On payment in full you acquire the right to use the film for the agreed purpose, worldwide and without a time limit. Copyright itself is not transferable under Austrian law, which is why the work is done through usage rights.
What does extending to television cost?
It depends on the licences for music and voices and on the reach. We obtain the quotes and show the costs openly rather than adding a flat surcharge. The cheapest route is to mention possible television use before production.
May you show our film in your portfolio?
Only with your consent. We ask, and a no changes nothing about the price. Without a release a client project does not appear with us.
Related terms
Read on: All terms in the glossary • Terms • Pricing
Where should the film run?
Say so before production and the rights are settled inside the fixed price.
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