Dolby royalties on replicated DVDs at DVinfo.net

Stephen Armour · April 26th, 2010, 03:14 PM

I searched on the whole forum, but could only find very old info on this subject.

If you have done a larger replication run (+1000) lately, please weight in on these questions:

Are MPEG and Dolby (just stereo) royalties still required for replicated DVDs?

If so, who is responsible to pay them and how much are they?

Allan Black · April 26th, 2010, 03:55 PM

That's how Dolby make their money .. charging royalties. The replicators include them in your cost.

Ring around and ask plants in your area what their rates are for various size runs and ask about all the royalties payable.

Royalties are also payable on copyright music used so don't start a production till you have permission in writing to use the music and what the royalty charges are. hth
Cheers.

Stephen Armour · April 26th, 2010, 04:30 PM

Music's no prob, as we were careful there, but if we don't include Dolby's logo on the DVD, what is the law concerning output from Encore (which includes Dolby encoding by default)?

Plus, it used to be that the MPEG consortium required some kind of royalties, but I've seen nothing on that in the last 7 yrs.

I'm sure our replicator probably rolls that into his price (they do a lot of work), but the Dolby output via Encore for replicated DVDs has us wondering. If you have some hard data on that, I'd sure appreciate the URL.

Chris Hurd · April 26th, 2010, 04:37 PM

Not sure why this was posted to the CineForm forum -- moved here where it belongs.

Allan Black · April 26th, 2010, 04:45 PM

Thanks Chris.

Stephen .. Ray Dolby has been around for Yonks you can't put anything past him he'd hear about it :(

I'd definately call your plant otherwise something will slip by you ie: more cost, tech or printing specs, delivery dates etc.

Cheers.

Stephen Armour · April 26th, 2010, 05:20 PM

Ha, I confess Chris, I knew you'd move it. I was wondering if you were sleeping....I mean, you took a whole hour and a half to do it! Thought maybe I'd slip it by...sorry for the extra work, I knew better.

Allan, I pretty much figured I'd have to run it through the replicator outfit. Prob is they are in the USA, busy like crazy, and I'm in Brazil right now. Emails are sometimes not so hot for getting info, but I guess there's no other way.

Yeah, Dolby is like Hurd...can't pull any fast ones on 'em. They've got a sixth sense to sniff out this stuff. It must smell like money.

Might have to call this one in.

Allan Black · April 26th, 2010, 06:52 PM

Stephen .. yep I saw your location. The plant might have Skype? .. with such a big job and if it's a first might be worth going up there for a few days check the samples and accompany it back? Brazilian import regs?

Hope it's not an urgent job.
Cheers.

Sareesh Sudhakaran · April 30th, 2010, 11:25 AM

both producers/distributors and replicators are liable to pay licensing fees. When you get a quote, the company doing your replication should tell you separately how much licensing costs. These charges are usually standard and are payable in (usually) USD. The responsibility is shared.

April 26th, 2010, 03:14 PM	#1
Stephen Armour Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Natal, RN, Brasil Posts: 900	Dolby royalties on replicated DVDs I searched on the whole forum, but could only find very old info on this subject. If you have done a larger replication run (+1000) lately, please weight in on these questions: Are MPEG and Dolby (just stereo) royalties still required for replicated DVDs? If so, who is responsible to pay them and how much are they? __________________ http://lightinaction.org "All in the view of the LION"

April 26th, 2010, 03:55 PM	#2
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	That's how Dolby make their money .. charging royalties. The replicators include them in your cost. Ring around and ask plants in your area what their rates are for various size runs and ask about all the royalties payable. Royalties are also payable on copyright music used so don't start a production till you have permission in writing to use the music and what the royalty charges are. hth Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

April 26th, 2010, 04:30 PM	#3
Stephen Armour Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Natal, RN, Brasil Posts: 900	Music's no prob, as we were careful there, but if we don't include Dolby's logo on the DVD, what is the law concerning output from Encore (which includes Dolby encoding by default)? Plus, it used to be that the MPEG consortium required some kind of royalties, but I've seen nothing on that in the last 7 yrs. I'm sure our replicator probably rolls that into his price (they do a lot of work), but the Dolby output via Encore for replicated DVDs has us wondering. If you have some hard data on that, I'd sure appreciate the URL. __________________ http://lightinaction.org "All in the view of the LION"

April 26th, 2010, 04:37 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Not sure why this was posted to the CineForm forum -- moved here where it belongs. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 26th, 2010, 04:45 PM	#5
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Thanks Chris. Stephen .. Ray Dolby has been around for Yonks you can't put anything past him he'd hear about it :( I'd definately call your plant otherwise something will slip by you ie: more cost, tech or printing specs, delivery dates etc. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

April 26th, 2010, 05:20 PM	#6
Stephen Armour Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Natal, RN, Brasil Posts: 900	Ha, I confess Chris, I knew you'd move it. I was wondering if you were sleeping....I mean, you took a whole hour and a half to do it! Thought maybe I'd slip it by...sorry for the extra work, I knew better. Allan, I pretty much figured I'd have to run it through the replicator outfit. Prob is they are in the USA, busy like crazy, and I'm in Brazil right now. Emails are sometimes not so hot for getting info, but I guess there's no other way. Yeah, Dolby is like Hurd...can't pull any fast ones on 'em. They've got a sixth sense to sniff out this stuff. It must smell like money. Might have to call this one in. __________________ http://lightinaction.org "All in the view of the LION"

April 26th, 2010, 06:52 PM	#7
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Stephen .. yep I saw your location. The plant might have Skype? .. with such a big job and if it's a first might be worth going up there for a few days check the samples and accompany it back? Brazilian import regs? Hope it's not an urgent job. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

April 30th, 2010, 11:25 AM	#8
Sareesh Sudhakaran Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,385	both producers/distributors and replicators are liable to pay licensing fees. When you get a quote, the company doing your replication should tell you separately how much licensing costs. These charges are usually standard and are payable in (usually) USD. The responsibility is shared. __________________ Get the Free Comprehensive Guide to Rigging ANY Camera - one guide to rig them all - DSLRs to the Arri Alexa.