Blanket Audio-visual Copyright Licence

The Motion Picture Licensing Company (MPLC) provides a Blanket Licence that legally authorises the public performance of copyrighted audiovisual works—films, TV programmes, streaming clips, and training videos—in non-domestic environments. This is required under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, particularly after the 2016 amendment to Section 72, which removed exemptions for films in public settings.

Purpose and Legal Requirement

The licence ensures compliance for organisations showing audiovisual content in workplaces, stations, depots, or staff areas. Activities such as streaming YouTube or TED Talks during safety briefings, or displaying news feeds on office TVs, count as public performance and require MPLC licensing. Other licences like TV Licence or PRS/PPL do not cover these uses.