How to calculate dubbing copyright and can it be commercially available?

time ：2025-12-29 scanning ：1

The core of the copyright ownership and commercial rights of dubbing depends on the written agreement before the cooperation. Different payment models correspond to different copyright scopes. The specific rules are as follows:

1. Division of copyright and commercial rights in common cooperation models

cooperation model	copyright belongs to	commercial rights	applicable scenarios
Basic dubbing fee (single use authorization)	Copyright still belongs to the dubbing artist/studio	Customers are only allowed toAgreed single channel/scenario commercial use(For example, 1 Short Video and 1 tweet on public account are specified), reuse across platforms and projects is prohibited	Short Video narration, small ad dubbing, personal self-media content
Buy out copyright (full copyright transfer)	Copyright is fully transferred to customers	mayAny channel, unlimited commercial use(Including online and offline advertising, multi-platform delivery, secondary editing and adaptation, etc.), no subsequent copyright disputes	Corporate promotional videos, brand advertising, long-term IP content (such as series of courses, anime dramas)
Free/low-cost audio screenings	The copyright belongs to the dubbing artist	Any commercial use is prohibited, only for audition and screening purposes	Auditions, unpaid samples

2. Key agreement points for commercial authorization

1. Clarify the commercial scope

When cooperating, specific commercial channels should be clearly stated, such as "only Douyin and Fast Hand Platform Delivery" and "allowing online advertising + offline store playback" to avoid subsequent copyright disputes such as "over-range use".

2. Payment standard for buying out copyright

The fee for buying out the copyright is usually3-10 times the basic dubbing fee, depending on the popularity of the dubbing actor and the level of content dissemination:

Short Video copywriting buyout for novice dubbing actors: about 3-5 times the basic fee;

Buyout of corporate promotional videos for actors: about 5-10 times the basic fee.

3. Signature rights and secondary adaptation rights

After the copyright is bought out, customers usually have the choice of whether to mark the name of the dubbing actor;

If it is necessary to perform secondary editing and mixing of the dubbing finished product (such as for a new advertising version), it is necessary to clearly state in the contract that "secondary adaptations are allowed."

3. Reminders to avoid pits

1. The oral agreement is invalid: Copyright and commercial rights must bewritten confirmation(such as order notes, contract terms), WeChat chat records can be used as supporting evidence, but formal contracts have more legal effect.

2. Avoid infringement risks: If the copyright is not bought out and the dubbing is used for multi-platform release and commercial monetization without authorization, the dubbing actor has the right to pursue responsibility and demand compensation.

3. Special rules for platform materials: When placing an order on a professional dubbing platform, some platforms will provide a "commercial authorization certificate". The scope of use covered by the certificate needs to be confirmed to avoid dual copyright claims by the platform and the dubbing operator.

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