Music License Expiration

[Mark Williams]

I have a DVD project that used royalty free 10 year music licenses. There were several DVD runs made during that period but under the 2,500 license cap. I have about 100 DVDs left. The music license expired this January. Can these still be sold since they were manufactured before the license expiration? The wording in the licenses does not address this issue.

[Andrew Smith]

My 'ordinary understanding' guess on the issue would be that it is the manufacture date that matters. The sale (and re-selling) is beyond control and it's hardly as if the punters have to hand their purchased DVDs back just because a copyright license expired.

On a practical level they wouldn't be able to do anything about it and on a practical administrative level they won't want to know about it. As far as I can see you've done the right thing in terms of the copyright licensing agreement as it was written up, and this particular issue is a very minor aspect of the life of the product for which you proceeded in good faith. Your integrity remains intact.

Bonus points for still being able to sell physical DVDs! :-)

Andrew

[Mark Williams]

Thanks. I don't know why they still sell. I have not bought one in 10 years.

[Paul R Johnson]

I'm still selling them too - nowhere near as many, but they're still asked for by customers. However, nobody has requested a Blue-ray for three years!

[Mark Williams]

Also have never been asked for a Blu-ray.