Managing Rights in Vevo Backstage 

This guide explains how to request, review, and manage both Full rights and Split rights for videos in Vevo Backstage. Full rights allow for full ownership to be transferred between content providers (CPs), while split rights allow multiple content providers to hold rights to the same video in specific territories, without transferring full ownership.

What Are Full Rights?

The Full Rights Transfer is the process of changing the Content Provider (aka Distributor, or Content Owner) of an existing Vevo video in Backstage. The Content Provider field is very important, as it determines who the primary rights holder is, and thus, who receives royalty payments from the video. A full rights transfer has virtually no effect on the live video, there are no changes to the video views, url, etc. the process simply changes who the Content Provider (owner) of the video is.

What Are Split Rights?

Split rights enable additional content providers (rights holders) to manage their rights for a video in specific territories, while the original rights-holding content provider retains ownership. Each territory must be explicitly approved by the managing rights holder (if there is one). Territories that are not currently managed by another content provider/rights holder will automatically be approved for split rights once requested.

Please note that after either process, you must also make sure the asset ownership in YouTube CMS matches the policies you've set in Vevo Backstage. To learn more about asset ownership, click here.

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

• The ISRC(s) for the video(s) (up to 100 per request)
• The correct content provider that should receive full rights or split rights
• The territory codes you are requesting rights for (for Split rights requests only)

How to Make Rights Requests

Step 1: Open Rights requests

1. Log in to Vevo Backstage.
2. Navigate to Rights requests from the main navigation.
3. Select Request rights

Step 2: Select Request Type

• Select either a Split rights or Full rights request

Step 3: Enter ISRC(s)

• Paste up to 100 comma-separated ISRCs into the ISRC field.
• Each ISRC creates a separate split rights request.

Step 4: Select the Rights Content Provider

• Choose the content provider that should receive full or split rights.
• This must not be the current managing content provider of the video.

Step 5: Select Territories (for Split rights requests only)

• Add one or more territories where split rights are being requested.
• Territories are evaluated individually.
• Enter territory codes - not country names! 
  • All territories claimed must be declared 
    • No WW. ex., DOMTOM, BENELUX, etc.
  • ISO codes must be in ALPHA-2 Code format
  • If you are unsure of the territory codes you need to select, please reference the following list: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/country_code_list.htm
• A request may be Accepted, Rejected, or Partially Accepted depending on territory availability.

Step 6: (Optional) Add a Note

• Use the note field to provide context for the rights holder (e.g., licensing agreement details).

Step 7: Submit the Request

• Click Submit to send the request to the current rights holder.

Understanding Request Statuses

Each request appears in the Overview table with a status:

• Pending – Awaiting action from the rights holder
• Accepted – All requested territories approved
• Rejected – All requested territories denied
• Partial – Some territories approved, others denied

Statuses are evaluated per territory, not per ISRC as a whole.

Viewing Request Details

To view more information about a request:

1. Click the video title or ISRC in the Overview table.
2. Review:
   • Requested and approved territories
   • Requester contact
   • Notes from the rights holder
   • Auto-approval messages (when applicable)

Some requests may be automatically approved if requested territories do not have a current rights holder. 

Incoming vs Outgoing Requests

• Incoming requests: Requests sent to your content provider for approval
• Outgoing requests: Requests you have submitted to other content providers

Use the tabs at the top of the Split Rights page to switch views.

Key Limitations & Notes

• Split rights are territory-specific
• Multiple split rights requests can exist for the same ISRC
• Split rights do not change video ownership or the managing content provider unless you are relinquishing rights to another rights holder 

Appeal Process

If your request was rejected by the current rights holder and you would like to appeal the decision, please submit the request again in Backstage. 

Need Help?

Questions: content@vevo.com