COMPASS is the acronym for The Composers & Authors Society of Singapore Ltd. The objective of COMPASS is the protection and promotion of the copyright interests of composers, authors and publishers of musical works and associated lyrics. In addition to local musical works, COMPASS, by virtue of reciprocal agreements with other international affiliated societies around the world, administers works of international composers, lyricists and publishers and controls more than 13 million pieces of musical works, which represent almost all copyright musical works in the world.

Users of such music in Singapore, whether for broadcast or public performance, must obtain a licence from COMPASS. An appropriate licence fee is charged by COMPASS. COMPASS in turn distributes such fees to its members and affiliated overseas societies for distribution to their own members.

Any person who, not being the owner of the copyright and without the licence of the copyright owner does any of the following infringes the copyright of the owner:-

• Reproduce the work in a material form, e.g. on a CD, tape or in a film;
• Publish the work;
• Perform the work in public;
• Broadcast the work;
• Include the work in a cable programme;
• Make an adaptation of the work; and
• Authorise the use of such adaptation in accordance with the rights stipulated above.

• a civil claim by the copyright owner for an injunction (which is a prohibitory order of the Court, refraining the infringer from committing any further copyright infringement acts) and damages (monetary compensation to the copyright owner, ', '); and/or
• criminal proceedings which will render the infringer, upon conviction, to a fine or imprisonment or to both.

A licence granted by COMPASS is a year to year contract which continues until terminated by either party. The licence authorises a licensee to use music controlled by COMPASS pursuant to the terms of the particular licence granted, in consideration for which the licensee agrees to pay an appropriate fee each year. COMPASS has a variety of ways to compute the appropriate fees payable (some of which are based on the seating capacity of the outlet). In addition to payment to COMPASS, if a music video or karaoke discs is played in your premises a licence from the Singapore Phonogram and Videogram Association (SPVA) is also required.

COMPASS can be contacted at:-