THE VOICE OF MELODY | publication terms

These terms explain the proposed publishing arrangement for composers whose chants are selected for the collection. They are provided before submission so that entrants can understand what publication will involve.

Copyright

Copyright in the composition remains with the composer. The composer does not assign or transfer ownership of her copyright to imprimis.uk.

Initial five-year publication period

If a chant is selected, imprimis.uk will offer to publish it under an agreement in which the composer grants imprimis.uk an exclusive licence for five years to reproduce, publish and distribute the work in printed and electronic musical notation.

During that five-year period, the composer may not herself publish the chant in musical notation or authorise another publisher to do so.

The licence is limited to the rights needed for publication and distribution of the musical score. Other rights remain with the composer.

After five years

At the end of the five-year exclusive period, the licence granted to imprimis.uk automatically becomes non-exclusive.

From that point the composer may:

• publish the chant herself;
• make it available through other channels;
• license it to another publisher;
• include it in another publication.

Nevertheless, imprimis.uk retains the continuing non-exclusive right to publish and distribute its edition of the chant and to keep the original collection complete and available.

The composer therefore retains ownership of the work throughout, while accepting that the imprimis.uk edition will remain available after the initial five-year period.

Other rights

Except for the rights specifically granted for publication of the musical score, the composer retains her other rights in the composition. These may include rights relating to performance, recording, broadcasting, and other uses.

Any income arising from rights not granted to imprimis.uk remains the responsibility and entitlement of the composer.

Copies for choirs

The composer will authorise imprimis.uk to allow licensed users to reproduce a chant in sufficient copies for rehearsal and performance by their own choir or ensemble.

Such copies may not be commercially published, distributed to unrelated organisations or made publicly available online.

Local psalters and liturgical resources

Churches, cathedrals, chapels, choirs and similar institutions who have licensed and downloaded copies of the collection may incorporate individual chants into locally produced psalters, chant books or other liturgical resources intended principally for their own institutional use.

Copies may be supplied within the institution or its community, including at a charge reasonably intended to recover the costs of producing them.

This permission does not extend to commercial publication or general public distribution. The composer's name and appropriate copyright acknowledgement must be retained.

Royalties and voluntary contributions

No royalties will be payable to composers in respect of imprimis.uk's publication or distribution of the collection.

imprimis.uk invites users of its editions and resources to make voluntary financial contributions towards its publishing activity. Such contributions support imprimis.uk generally and will not be apportioned between the composers whose works appear in the collection.

This does not affect any income which may arise from rights retained by the composer.

Copyright misuse

imprimis.uk is not obliged to monitor or police infringements of the composer's copyright. Where apparent misuse comes to its attention, imprimis.uk may take reasonable action within the rights granted to it and/or notify the composer.

Editing and presentation

imprimis.uk will prepare selected works for publication in a consistent house style.

Normal editorial changes to notation, typography and layout may be made as necessary. Any change which materially affects the musical substance of a work will be referred to the composer.

Formal agreement

Before publication, each selected composer will receive a publishing agreement reflecting these terms.

The composer will retain the opportunity to read and accept that agreement before any publishing rights are granted to imprimis.uk.