Minor Media Licence

Who is the licence intended for?

Both private individuals and companies and corporations can obtain this licence.

The Minor Media Licence is suitable only for operators whose annual revenue from various online platforms, services and channels is at the maximum EUR 50,000 and for local TV operators whose channels are distributed to up to 350,000 households.

What does the licence cover?

The Minor Media Licence, launched on 15 June 2021, covers the use of music online (different platforms and online services such as homepages, intranet, Zoom, Teams, Vimeo), in radio and local TV operations and in downloading services (downloading stores where consumers can download files).

The licence does not cover advertisement or marketing content. In addition to product and service presentations, marketing content is deemed to include, for example, brand and challenge videos created by companies or corporations for social media channels. Using music in advertisement or marketing content is always subject to permission from the music author or publisher. Please contact our customer service for the contact information of music authors and publishers.

For online services, the licence covers both live streaming (excluding gigs and concerts) and reproductions containing music. Audio reproductions are included in the licence price, but AV reproductions require a separate synchronisation surcharge. AV reproductions include both live stream reproductions made for later viewing and separately produced video reproductions.

A licence is not required for live streaming that is free of charge and uses platforms licensed by Teosto (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok). However, if a video reproduction of the live stream is stored on any platform – including the above-mentioned platforms – for later viewing, a Minor Media Licence and its synchronisation surcharge are required.

Concerning local TV, the licence covers operations in which channels are distributed to a maximum of 350,000 households.

The licence permits the use of music by either several simultaneous or only one of the aforementioned methods of music use (online, local TV, downloads) when the use of music is compliant with the use restrictions stated in the licence and the licence category music amounts.

The licence covers all distribution channels (aerial, cable, satellite, internet and mobile) and all methods of distribution (linear transmission, live streaming, on-demand reproductions and downloads).

The obtainer of the licence does not need to report the information about to the use of music. The royalties accrued through the licence are distributed to the music authors on the basis of the music use reports of the radio and concert areas.

What is not covered by the licence?

The Minor Media Licence, launched on 15 June 2021 does not cover the live streaming of concerts or gigs. Streaming gigs, concerts and other events in which music is the principal content always requires a Live-streaming Licence.

The licence does not cover, for example, gig or concert reproduction libraries, subject to a charge. For these, you must obtain a separate Consumer-payable Music Streaming Services Licence. Please contact our customer service for further information.

In addition to this licence, the use of recorded music online and on social media requires permission from the phonogram producer, i.e. the record company. The name of the record company can usually be found in the information of the published recording.

The Minor Media Licence does not cover the use of music in advertisements, commercial partnerships or political context. For these, a separate permission must always be obtained from both the music authors and the publisher of the reproduction.

How is the price of the licence calculated and what does it cost?

The price of the licence is based on music amount estimates in accordance with the price list table and whether the service is free or subject to charge for consumers. If music is used in several ways simultaneously (e.g. radio and streaming), you must select a music category with music amounts that cover all the different methods of music use. See Example 1 below.

When it comes to the amount of music in streaming, the amounts of music in live streams and in different simultaneously available reproductions are added up. If exactly the same content is available as a reproduction on various platforms, the amount of music it contains needs to be included in the calculation only once. Live streaming minutes on platforms licensed by Teosto do not need to be included in the music minutes of the Minor Media Licence if no reproduction of the live stream is stored. See Example 2 below.

PLEASE NOTE! If the amount of music increases or decreases to such an extent that it is necessary to change the licence category either temporarily* or permanently, please contact tapahtumat@teosto.fi. to have the category changed.

*For example, if you only offer content that temporarily increases the number of minutes of music only for one or a few months, but in other months the amount of music is lower.

Example 1:
During a single month, an operator has 100 hours of radio broadcasts with music and in addition 3 hours of music content online as reproductions. The operator needs an M-size Minor Media Licence, which covers 300 hours of radio operations and 3 hours of streaming.

Example 2:
Exactly the same video that contains 20 minutes of music is simultaneously available on YouTube, Facebook and the operator’s own website. The operator needs an XS-size Minor Media Licence, in which the 20-minute limit for streaming covers the use of music.

If the operator additionally has a 1-hour live-streamed music event on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram, this does not need to be taken into account in the minutes of music as these platforms are licensed by Teosto. If the live stream is on another platform, it is to be included, i.e. the minutes of music total 20 + 60. The operator needs an M-size licence which covers 3 hours of streaming.

Synchronisation surcharge

A synchronisation surcharge must be paid if music is added to a (self-produced) video reproduction or a live stream that contains music is video-recorded for later viewing. A synchronisation surcharge of 20% is added to the price of the licence category that covers the minutes of music.

The synchronisation surcharge is only available as part of the Minor Media Licence, not as a standalone licence.

How and when is the licence paid for?

Licences that are valid until further notice, such as the Minor Media Licence, are invoiced every six months. Fixed-term licences are invoiced after the licence application has been processed.

How long is the licence valid for?

The licence is valid from the date stated in the licence application. A licence that is valid until further notice remains valid until it is terminated. The notice period of the licence is one month.

Minor Media Licence – special terms and conditions specific to the method of use

The right to use music under the Minor Media Licence is governed by these special terms and conditions for individual methods of use, as laid down by Teosto and Nordisk Copyright Bureau (referred to collectively as “Teosto/NCB”) and Teosto’s General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Minor Media Licence”). In the event of conflict between these special terms and conditions specific to the method of use and Teosto’s General Terms and Conditions, these special terms and conditions will take precedence over Teosto’s General Terms and Conditions.

Definitions used in these special terms and conditions specific to the method of use

The customer’s website refers to a webpage or website that is located at a unique address in a telecommunications network, intended for the private use of end users located in Finland, maintained and administered by the customer and reported to Teosto by the customer.

Festival refers to an event lasting one or more days where multiple orchestras, bands, solo artists or DJs perform and where music is the principal content.

Gig refers to an event where a band, solo artist or orchestra performs. There are no assigned seats for the audience, and alcoholic drinks and other refreshments are often for sale during the performance.

Concert refers to an event where music performed by an orchestra, a band or a solo artist is the principal content. The audience often has assigned seats or floor sections, and alcoholic drinks or other refreshments are usually not sold during the performance.

Radio programme refers to audio programme content for which the customer is responsible, including editorial responsibility, and which is monitored by the customer and broadcast or made available by the customer in its radio broadcast operations.

Extended collective licence refers to a permission granted to the customer under section 26, subsection 1 of the Copyright Act to broadcast and copy musical works or associated texts protected by copyright but whose authors are not represented by Teosto/NCB, unless the author of such work has prohibited broadcasting or copying under section 25 f of the Copyright Act. The broadcasting and copying must comply with the terms and conditions referred to in section 25 f, subsections 1 and 3 of the Copyright Act, this Minor Media Licence and the terms and conditions of the relevant approval decision granted to Teosto by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Reproduction/Recording refers to an audio recording or audiovisual recording that contains works. Use rights to works which are not granted under this Minor Media Licence but which are necessary to create a recording and use it on the customer’s website must be obtained in advance from Teosto/NCB or third parties.

Television programme refers to audiovisual programme content for which the customer is responsible, including editorial responsibility, and which is monitored by the customer and broadcast or made available by the customer in its local TV broadcast operations.

Telecommunications network refers to telecommunications networks irrespective of the transmission or reception technology available at that moment.

Rights granted under the Minor Media Licence

The Minor Media Licence covers the non-exclusive right to use music, under the terms and conditions of the Minor Media Licence, by the following methods:

Radio operations

FM broadcasts

• the right to transmit works to the audience as part of radio programmes that are the customer’s original radio broadcasts sent using freely propagating terrestrial VHF radio waves (FM broadcast) intended to be received in Finland
• the right to prepare copies of works contained in radio programmes, when these copies exceed the use specified in section 25 f, subsection 2 of the Copyright Act (“short-term reproduction required by broadcasting operations”) and are to be used in radio broadcasts for which Teosto/NCB has granted the customer this Minor Media Licence

Simulcasting

• the right to transmit works to the audience as part of radio programmes streamed from the customer’s website simultaneously and in parallel with the FM broadcast without the streamed content being altered (so-called “simulcasting”) intended to be received in Finland

Webcasting

• the right to store works on a server administered by the customer / a hard drive in the customer’s computer, when these works are contained in the radio programmes available on the customer’s website, in order to transmit these to the audience as described in the next item (so-called “server copying”)
• the right to transmit works to the audience as part of radio programmes streamed from the customer’s website

The rights in the section “Radio operations” are subject to the extended collective licence.

Local TV operations

DVB-T

• the right to transmit works to the audience as part of TV programmes that are the customer’s original TV broadcasts sent on a terrestrial digital TV network intended to be received in Finland in no more than 350,000 households
• the right to prepare copies of works contained in TV programmes, when these copies exceed the use specified in section 25 f, subsection 2 of the Copyright Act (“short-term reproduction required by broadcasting operations”) and are to be used in TV broadcasts for which Teosto/NCB has granted the customer this Minor Media Licence.
  Simulcasting
• the right to transmit works to the audience as part of TV Programmes streamed from the customer’s website simultaneously and in parallel with the DVB-T broadcast without the streamed content being altered (so-called “simulcasting”) intended to be received in Finland
  DVB-C
• the right to transmit works as part of TV programmes that are the customer’s original TV broadcasts sent over a cable TV network and intended to be received in Finland in no more than 350,000 households
  Webcasting
• the right to store works on a server administered by the customer / a hard drive in the customer’s computer, when these works are contained in the TV programmes available on the customer’s website, in order to transmit these to the audience as described in the next item (so-called “server copying”)
• the right to transmit works to the audience as part of TV programmes streamed from the customer’s website

The rights in the section “Local TV operations” are subject to the extended collective licence.

Streaming service

• the right to store works on a server administered by the customer / a hard drive in the customer’s computer if these works are contained in the reproductions available on the customer’s website, in order to transmit these to the audience as described in the next item (“server copying”)
• the right to transmit to the audience works contained in the reproductions available for streaming on the customer’s website, with the end user being able to listen and watch the reproductions in a place and time of their choosing (“on demand”) without, however, the possibility to store the reproductions on their storage platform permanently.

Download service

• the right to store works on a server administered by the customer/a hard drive in the customer’s computer if these works are contained in the reproductions available on the customer’s website, in order to transmit these to the audience from the customer’s website as described in the next item (“server copying”)
• the right to transmit works to the audience if these works are contained in reproductions available on the customer’s website in such a way that the end user can copy the reproduction onto their storage platform (“downloading”).
  Synchronisation surcharge associated with operations under the Minor Media Licence
• the right to reproduce works in conjunction with moving images in TV programmes produced by the customer and in reproductions produced by the customer to be used in local TV operations and in the customer’s streaming and/or download service from the customer’s website, excluding advertisements, trailers, documentaries, films, signature tunes, TV productions excluding local TV broadcasting operations as well as use for a purpose that is outside the company’s own operations.

For the sake of clarity: the synchronisation surcharge cannot be purchased as a standalone product without a connection to the customer’s local TV operations, streaming service or download service under the Minor Media Licence. If a TV programme or reproduction produced by the customer and recorded under the synchronisation surcharge is used in operations other than those specified in the customer’s Minor Media Licence or used by other parties than the customer, the synchronisation surcharge will not cover such use.

Limitations of the Minor Media Licence

• The total revenue from the customer’s operations under the Minor Media Licence (radio operations, local TV operations, streaming service and download service) may not exceed EUR 50,000 per calendar year.
• The Minor Media Licence does not cover the use in streaming or download services of concerts, gigs, festivals or other such live performances where music is the principal content. A separate licence for live streaming is required for such use.

Pricing and invoicing

The fee for the Minor Media Licence is specified according to Teosto’s price list for the Minor Media Licence effective at that moment.

Other terms and conditions

The rights granted under the Minor Media Licence only apply to works originating from a legal source. This requirement of a legal source means that the copies of the works referred to in the Minor Media Licence must be legally produced and that the works must be made available to the audience legally.

The customer must perform the actions required by the reproduction and the transmission to the audience referred to in the Minor Media Licence. The Minor Media Licence does not cover reproduction or transmission, as referred to in the Minor Media Licence, of works in circumstances that cannot be considered the customer’s operations.

Teosto/NCB has the right to prohibit the use of one or more works in the customer’s operations if the author of the music has presented a prohibition request concerning the work or the prohibition is otherwise necessary or justified in view of the operations of Teosto/NCB. The customer must put the prohibition in practice within five (5) working days after receiving a written notice about the prohibition from Teosto/NCB. After this, Teosto/NCB is no longer responsible for the use of such works or any claims associated with them. The extent of the rights granted by Teosto/NCB with the Minor Media Licence may vary during the period of validity of the Minor Media Licence. Teosto/NCB can exclude from this Minor Media Licence works or rights associated with works that are no longer administered by Teosto/NCB.

Teosto/NCB has the right to change, remove or add terms and conditions applicable to the Minor Media Licence, decline to make an equivalent agreement after the agreement period has ended or stop offering a product referred to in the Minor Media Licence entirely if Teosto/NCB has a reason to do so due to a rightholder’s demand, competition law or changes in legislation, market situation or operating environment, or other similar reasons.

The Minor Media Licence does not come with a reporting obligation. However, the customer is obligated, upon request, to report to Teosto/NCB in writing the works used by the customer, the extent of the distribution of FM radio stations or local TV stations and the content and use of the customer’s website referred to in the Minor Media Licence.

The customer is obligated to protect, as far as possible by the generally available methods and within reasonable costs, the works intended to be transmitted to the audience from use that violates the Minor Media Licence. For the sake of clarity: the customer’s responsibility described above does not limit Teosto’s right to file claims against third parties for copying or other use of works that violates this Minor Media Licence.

Teosto’s General Terms and Conditions