Using clips for self-promotion

Posted on August 4, 2008

Can I use clips of my prior performances (TV, movies, commercials, etc.) on-line or on my own personal website for career and casting purposes?

By doing this you could be exposing yourself to potential claims of infringement of copyright under the terms of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. In order to cover yourself you would need to get permission from all those who may contain copyright in the recorded works, which may include authors of the music, scriptwriters, set designers and other rights holders. All the performers in the clip have performers’ rights, which means they have rights with respect to the use of a recording of the performance. A performer has the right to control the broadcasting of his or her live performance to the public and you would therefore need to get permission from all performers. It is unlikely that rights holders would expect payment for the use of the clip on a show reel, but it is in your interests to clear the rights of all the performers involved.

TV is Changing • Equity