Who are MPLC?
MPLC (Motion Picture Licensing Company) is the world’s leading non-theatrical TV and movie licensing company. We’ve been in business for almost 40 years and represent major Hollywood studios, including The Walt Disney Company, Universal and Paramount, alongside hundreds of independent TV studios and producers.
We offer a variety of ways for our clients to show copyrighted audio-visual content legally and affordably.
What is an IME?
An IME (Independent Management Entity) is a type of licensing body which grants rights on behalf of more than one rightsholder. Its main purpose is to grant licences allowing for clients to play copyrighted material in public spaces.
For example, we partner with studios and producers to create licences that allow businesses of all sizes to show their movies and TV shows in public. The licensing fees help pay these creators for their work.
As a for-profit, or commercial, entity, MPLC can pay its rightsholders faster than not-for-profit organisations and is regulated by legislation and a supervisory authority, the IPO (Intellectual Property Organisation).
How is an IME different from other licensing bodies?
Another main licensing body is the CMO (Collective Management Organisation) which is different from an IME in a few ways – one of which is that an IME is neither owned nor operated, wholly or indirectly, by the rightsholders. It’s, as the name suggests, independent as IMEs work on behalf of the rightsholders while not being controlled by them. The CMO, on the other hand, has a membership made up directly by the rightsholders.
Additionally, reporting requirements for CMOs are more extensive, but both CMOs and IMEs are regulated by the Collective Management of Copyright (EU Directive) Regulations 2016.