About Copyright Law
TV shows and films, whether broadcast on TV, played from DVDs or viewed from the internet, are intended for personal, private use only. If you wish to show the work in public, you must have a separate licence that specifically authorises the public exhibition of that work.
These rules are detailed in the Singapore Copyright Act.
- According to The Copyright Act, only the copyright owner holds the exclusive right, among others, “to cause the film ... to be seen in public ...and to communicate the film to the public” (Section 83). Some limited exceptions do exist when performing the work for the purpose of research and study, criticism or news reporting (Section 109-111). All other public performances of Videos are illegal unless they have been authorised by licence.
Non-compliance with The Copyright Act is considered infringement and carries steep and significant penalties, including damages up to $200,000 (Section 119).