Verlust von Lizenzeinnahmen und Nachvergütungen für Choreografien durch unklare Vertragsgestaltung

Definition

The Dance Industry Code of Practice sets out detailed provisions for choreographers, including a choreographer rate (e.g. hourly up to 12 rehearsal hours or weekly beyond that) and a separate choreography fee for the piece as a product, with choreographers retaining copyright over their work unless otherwise agreed.[1][7] The Code also provides for revenue participation in subsequent exploitation in certain circumstances (for example, a share of company proceeds until an amount equal to several weeks’ pay has been reached).[7] If companies engage choreographers informally or via generic performer contracts that omit these structures, they risk later claims for unpaid choreography fees or revenue shares, which can retroactively reduce margins on touring, licensing or screen adaptations. Conversely, some companies fail to negotiate or document sufficient rights for reuse or filming, limiting their ability to generate future income or requiring costly renegotiation. Both situations represent revenue leakage tied directly to contract negotiation quality.

Why This Matters

The Pitch: Dance companies in Australia 🇦🇺 miss out on AUD 5,000–40,000 in potential licence, royalty or touring margins per work because choreography rights, reuse fees and revenue‑sharing are not standardised in contracts. Automating code‑compliant choreographer contracts with clear exploitation clauses locks in future upside and reduces disputes.

Affected Stakeholders

Artistic director, Company manager, Choreographer, Producer, Legal counsel (where present)

Related Business Risks