Copyright & Licensing

Whilst it is a legal requirement for schools to comply with copyright law, we know that teachers are busy so we try to make the process of compliance as simple as possible.The guidelines below explain the most common copyright and licensing issues.

Helpful information can be found on the following website: www.copyrightandschools.org and remember, we are always happy to help - simply call our customer services team on 020 8481 7200 or email copyright@outoftheark.com.
 

Licensing Summary:  Important - Read This Now

You are free to use any of our resources anywhere in the school for teaching purposes.

The public performance of a musical or nativity, ie to an audience other than pupils and staff, is permitted if you hold a valid Annual Performance Licence from Out of the Ark Limited.

Annual Performance Licences can be purchased on the relevant product page or on the Buy Licences page of this website. 

The public performance of songs (without the performance of a scripted drama) is permitted if you hold a valid PRS licence.

Making printed copies or photocopies of songbooks for use in the classroom is covered by your Schools Printed Music Licence (SPML) and Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) licences.  You should report your usage when requested by the licence issuers.

Reproducing the lyrics of songs or projecting the lyrics of songs in assemblies and copying the music scores for use in assemblies are covered by your school's CWCL and CWMRL licences from CCLI.  You should report your usage to CCLI on your regular copy reports.

Limitied digital usage rights for Words on Screen™ software are granted by a Single-User Licence which is supplied to you when you purchase Words on Screen™ products.  This allows you for example to install software on one computer but NOT the network server.

More extensive digital usage, for example to install Words on Screen™ on multiple computers or onto a network server, requires an Annual Digital Site Licence (or, in the case of a musical or nativity, an Annual Performance Licence). 

Annual Digital Site Licences and Annual Performance Licences can be purchased on the relevant product page or on the Buy Licences page of this website. 

Please note that Annual Digital Site Licences replace the Extension Licences that were formerly supplied by Out of the Ark Music.  However if you hold an Extension Licence this continues to be valid. 
 
 

Performing A Musical or Nativity

Performance Licence Options

The performance of a musical or nativity to an audience (other than pupils and staff) requires an Annual Performance Licence, even if it's a 'free' performance, wherever in the world the performance takes place. (Please note a Performing Rights Society (PRS) Licence does NOT cover musicals and nativities). An Annual Performance Licence is title-specific.

We issue affordable performance licences to schools, churches, nurseries and other groups which can be obtained in two ways:

Purchased Individually
If you already have the Book, CD, eSongbook or CD ROM for a product but did not buy an Annual Performance Licence, or if you previously bought a licence that has now expired, you can purchase an Annual Performance Licence online on the product page for your musical or nativity, or you can purchase it on the Buy Licences page. Alternatively, you can apply, or re-apply for a licence, by completing the performance licence application form to be found in our musical and nativity play books and send it to our current address. Up-to-date licence prices can be found on individual product pages and on the Buy Licences page. Alternatively, please contact our Customer Services department on +44 (0)20 8481 7200 or email info@outoftheark.com.

OR

Purchased as part of a Product Pack 

Purchase an Annual Performance Licence as part of a product pack and it will save you money!
 

Performance Rights Granted to Annual Performance Licence Holder

An Annual Performance Licence will permit the holder to:

  • Perform the musical or nativity during the licence period. The licence will cover any number of performances (free or charging) within a specified time (maximum 12 months from the date of purchase or date of first performance if earlier).
  • Play the audio tracks (either backing or vocal tracks) at the performance

Photocopying Rights Granted to Annual Performance Licence holder

Photocopying of the published material is permitted under schools' copying licences issued by PML, CLA and CCLI.

UK state schools should report when requested any:


  - copying of the lyrics and music on their Schools Printed Music Licence (SPML) returns
  - copying of the script, teachers' notes & staging instructions on their Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) returns 

Schools that do not have a CLA or SPML licence may under the terms of the Annual Performance Licence:
  • Make up to 2 photocopies or printed copies of the script for learning purposes. Copies must be destroyed after the performance.
  • Make up to 2 photocopies or printed copies of the music score for use by participating musicians on the performance dates
  • Reproduce the song lyrics on printed paper, e.g. for programmes, to project the lyrics or to display the lyrics electronically, to make transparencies for overhead projection and to display the lyrics on a touchscreen, interactive whiteboard or other type of screen. The following credit should be included with the lyrics: 'Reproduced by kind permission © Out of the Ark Ltd'

If the songs are used in a school assembly then photocopying, printing, displaying or projecting the lyrics or music score are covered by the school's CCLI licences and should be logged and reported as required by CCLI.

 

Digital Content Usage Rights Granted to Annual Performance Licence Holder

In addition, where digital copies of the product have been purchased, a number of digital usage rights are granted to the licence holder, including:

  • Installing Words on Screen™ song files from an eSongbook or CD ROM onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Downloading Words on Screen™ song files onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Continuing to stream Words on Screen™ songs on any device beyond the 12 month free period.
  • Copy song files from an Audio CD onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Copy MP3 audio files onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Create a recording of the song/s with children singing over the top, whether with our backing track, our vocal track or your own backing track.
  • Upload and share digital content to your school's intranet, restricted internet or learning platform.
  • Share on public websites including the school’s website, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Soundcloud, etc. However Out of the Ark Music must be credited and an inbound link to www.outoftheark.com must be provided. Please note that Out of the Ark Music's original recordings may not be posted to public websites except as an accompaniment to the children singing. However, as a special dispensation, if children are not allowed to sing for health & safety reasons, original recordings may be used instead, as long as they are part of an overall recording or stream of the whole work with the spoken parts, and not just the songs on their own.
  • Permit usage of digital content at home for teachers for preparation purposes.

An Out of the Ark Annual Performance Licence is required by customers worldwide, not just in the UK.
 
 

Putting On A Concert

If not staging a musical but performing any of our songs for the public on school premises (i.e. to anyone other than pupils or staff) then royalty payments become due. Contact Out of the Ark Music directly to obtain a licence. Please note: There is no need to obtain a licence from the publisher if your school has an arrangement with the Performing Rights Society (PRS) either directly or through the local authority. 

 

Audio/Video/DVD Recordings


Audio/Video/DVD Recordings – What licence do you need?
We are of course delighted that you want to record your children singing our songs or performing one our musicals or nativities. Here's how you can be sure that you are properly licensed for doing so.

Putting Audio or Video Recordings Online
Permission to upload audio or video recordings of your children performing our works, is already included in our Annual Digital Site Licences (for Songbooks) or Annual Performance Licences (for Musicals & Nativities). These can be purchased here on our licences page. These allow you to upload audio or video recordings to your school's intranet or learning platform and also public websites including your school's website, YouTube or other social media platforms (subject to your safeguarding policy). 

Please note that this permission is only intended to cover your children performing our works. Out of the Ark's original recordings can only be used as an accompaniment to the children singing. Out of the Ark must be credited, plus an inbound link to www.outoftheark.com must be provided from your website.

However, as a special dispensation for Musicals and Nativities, if children are not allowed to sing for health & safety reasons, original recordings may be used instead, as long as they are part of an overall recording or stream of the whole work with the spoken parts, and not just the songs on their own.

Producing CDs or DVDs for Distribution
If you have produced a CD or DVD of your recordings for distribution, then a licence will be required. Licensing depends on where you are located, what type of organization you are and what you have recorded.
To find out which licence you require, please refer to the list below and notes that follow. 
 

ENGLAND

State-mantained schools or their nurseries
  1. Musicals or Nativities: A Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from Out of the Ark Music
  2. Concerts and Other*: A Schools Limited Manufacture Licence is provided by the DfE
All other schools and nurseries
  1. Musicals or Nativities: A Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from Out of the Ark Music
  2. Concerts and Other*: A Schools Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from CEFM
All other organizations
  1. Musicals or Nativities: A Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from Out of the Ark Music
  2. Concerts and Other*: A Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from PRS for Music
     

SCOTLAND, WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND

All schools and nurseries
  1. Musicals or Nativities: Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from Out of the Ark Music
  2. Concerts and Other*: Schools Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from CEFM
All other organizations
  1. Musicals or Nativities: Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from Out of the Ark Music
  2. Concerts and Other*: Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from PRS for Music
     

REST OF THE WORLD

All organizations
  1. Musicals, Nativities, Concerts and Other*: Limited Manufacture Licence must be bought from Out of the Ark Music


NOTES

A. Limited Manufacture Licence (from Out of the Ark Music)
Our Musicals and Nativities are classed as 'dramatico-musical' works (i.e. where music is combined with dramatic action) or 'Grand Rights' works. All licences to produce CDs or DVDs for distribution must come from us unless you are just singing a few songs from the production without acting it out. We appreciate that you have already bought a product from us and licenced the performance and so our Limited Manufacture Licences are heavily discounted. Our prices are as follows: 
  • £20 for up to 100 copies
  • £30 for up to 250 copies
  • £40 for up to 500 copies
  • £50 for up to 1000 copies
You are also allowed to charge parents for your CDs/DVDs on a non-commercial basis.
To purchase an Out of the Ark Limited Manufacture Licence, please visit our licences page

B. Schools Limited Manufacture Licence (provided by the DfE)
For England only, the Department for Education has purchased a blanket licence to cover state-mantained schools and their nurseries for the production of up to 1000 units (CDs or DVDs) per year. Should your school wish to exceed this number of units, please contact CEFM for a top-up licence (see below). This licence does not cover Musicals and Nativites (i.e. 'dramatico-musical' or 'Grand Rights' works).

C. Schools Limited Manufacture Licence (from CEFM)
Non state-maintained schools or nurseries in England or any school or nursery in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland must purchase a Schools Limited Manufacture Licence from the Centre for Education & Finance Management (CEFM) which administers the MCPS/PPL licence on behalf of schools. Go to www.cefm.co.uk/licensing/mcps. This licence does not cover Musicals and Nativites (i.e. 'dramatico-musical' or 'Grand Rights' works).

D. Limited Manufacture Licence (from PRS for Music)
All other organizations in the UK will need to purchase a Limited Manufacture Licence direct from PRS for Music at www.prsformusic.com/licences/releasing-music-products/limited-manufacture. This licence does not cover Musicals and Nativites (i.e. 'dramatico-musical' or 'Grand Rights' works).

*Please note that Churches and Schools who have a Church Copyright Licence or Collective Worship Copyright Licence from CCLI can record their services or assemblies including the 'live' music by audio or video means for those unable to attend. Please refer to www.uk.ccli.com/copyright-licences/ccl-cwcl-manual and report copies on your CCLI return. However, this licence does not cover Musicals and Nativites (i.e. 'dramatico-musical' or 'Grand Rights' works).

Please contact our Customer Services team at music@outoftheark.com or call +44 (0) 20 8481 7200 if you need any further advice.
 

Singing Songs In The Classroom

You are free to use all of the material – including songs and scripts – in the classroom for teaching purposes. If photocopying any part of the book for teaching purposes, please record this usage on your school's photocopy log to ensure you are legally protected.

 

Singing Songs In An Assembly Or In Church

Songs may be sung in assembly without charge. However the reproduction of the lyrics or musical scores for use in an assembly or church requires a licence. The following licences from Christian Copyright Licensing Limited (www.ccli.com/schools) permit the photocopying or reproduction of song lyrics or musical scores - for example to create song sheets, overhead transparencies or to display the lyrics or music using any electronic display medium:

   For UK schools: A CWCL and a CWMRL Licence
   For churches: A CCL and MRL Licence

Please ensure that you log the songs that are used on your CWCL and CWMRL copy report.

Your CWCL licence also grants you permission to display the song lyrics from our Words on Screen™ software on a whiteboard or other screen. Simply log the song titles on your copy report. Organisations that do not hold one of the above licences should contact Out of the Ark Limited directly for permission.

 

Copying, File-sharing & Uploading

Downloading, copying, installing or streaming any software supplied by Out of the Ark Music - including copying audio CDs, CD ROMs, MP3s, PDFs or any other digital files - are NOT permitted without obtaining a specific licence from Out of the Ark Music.

When purchasing Words on Screen™ products a Single-User Licence is supplied to you granting specific installation rights.

For wider use of digital content Out of the Ark Music can supply Annual Digital Site Licences for any of our songbooks.  Annual Performance Licences for musicals and nativities also grant the same digital permissions as an Annual Digital Site Licence.

 

Licensing Information For Words On Screen


All of our Words on Screen™ eSongbooks and CD ROMs are supplied with a Words on Screen™ Single User Licence which allows the Words on Screen™ software to be installed on ONE computer only.

If you would like to install your Words on Screen™ software onto your network server and/or two or more computers, you need an Annual Digital Site Licence (or an Annual Performance Licence in the case of Musicals and Nativities) which includes extended digital rights.

Annual Digital Site Licences and Annual Performance Licences can be purchased on the relevant product page or on the Buy Licences page of this website. 

The digital rights granted to the holder of an Annual Digital Site Licence or an Annual Performance Licence include:

  • Installing Words on Screen™ song files from an eSongbook or CD ROM onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Downloading Words on Screen™ song files onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Continuing to stream Words on Screen™ songs on any device beyond the 12 month free period.
  • Copy song files from an Audio CD onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Copy MP3 audio files onto more than one computer or onto a network.
  • Create a recording of the song/s with children singing over the top, whether with our backing track, our vocal track or your own backing track.
  • Upload and share digital content to your school's intranet, restricted internet or learning platform.
  • Share on public websites including the school’s website, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Soundcloud, etc. However Out of the Ark Music must be credited and an inbound link to www.outoftheark.com must be provided. Please note that Out of the Ark Music's original recordings may not be posted to public websites except as an accompaniment to the children singing. However, as a special dispensation, if children are not allowed to sing for health & safety reasons, original recordings may be used instead, as long as they are part of an overall recording or stream of the whole work with the spoken parts, and not just the songs on their own.
  • Permit usage of digital content at home for teachers for preparation purposes.
 

A CCLI Licence (Christian Copyright Licensing Ltd - https://uk.ccli.com/schools) grants you permission to display the song lyrics from our Words on Screen™ software on a whiteboard or other screen. Simply log your song titles on your annual copy report. 

 

Further Information

If you require further information on licensing for any Out of the Ark Music product, please contact Customer Services on 020 8481 7200. A Guide to Licensing Copyright in Schools also provides helpful information and can be found on the following website: www.copyrightandschools.org