Legal Definitions - synchronization license

A synchronization license, often referred to as a "sync license," is a legal agreement that grants permission to use a copyrighted musical composition (the underlying song, including its melody, lyrics, and arrangement) in timed relation with visual media. This means integrating a song into a film, television show, commercial, video game, or any other visual production where the music plays alongside moving images. Without this license, using a copyrighted song in such a way would typically constitute copyright infringement.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a synchronization license:

• Imagine a major film studio producing a new romantic comedy. They want to feature a classic 1980s pop song during a pivotal montage scene where the main characters fall in love. To legally include this song in their movie, which will be distributed globally, the studio must obtain a synchronization license from the song's publisher (who owns the copyright to the musical composition). This license permits them to "sync" the song's audio with the visual narrative of the film.

• Consider a car manufacturer developing a new television advertisement to launch their latest model. They decide that a specific upbeat instrumental track would perfectly complement the visuals of the car driving through scenic landscapes. Before the advertisement can air, the car manufacturer's advertising agency must secure a synchronization license for that instrumental track. This license allows them to combine the music with the video footage of the car, ensuring they have the legal right to broadcast the ad with the chosen soundtrack.

• A video game development company is creating a new role-playing game and wants to use several popular indie rock songs as background music during certain gameplay levels and cinematic cutscenes. To legally incorporate these copyrighted songs into their game, which will be sold to millions of players, the game developer needs to obtain a synchronization license for each song from its respective publisher. This license grants them the right to synchronize the music with the game's interactive visuals and pre-rendered sequences.