Distribution of DVD and Blue-Ray in Norway
If you want to distribute or sell DVD and Blu-Ray you have obligations under Norwegian Law.
When you distribute or sell DVD and Blue-Ray you have obligations under both the Protecting Minors from harmful content in Film and Programmes-Act, and The Act relating to films and videograms.
Obligations for distribution
All DVDs and Blu-Rays should have an age rating. The exception are music-videos. If the Norwegian Media Authority has rated the film after 1 July 2015, this is the rating that should be used.
If the film does not have an existing age rating, or has an age limit set by the Norwegian Media Authority before 1 July 2015, the distributor must rate the film themselves. One of the following age-ratings should be used: Allowed for all, 6 years, 9 years, 12 years, 15 years or 18 years. The age limits must be set according to the same guidelines as the Media Authority itself uses. As a distributor, you must mark the cover's front page with the age rating.
Obligation when distributing DVDs for sale
All films must be marked with an age rating on the front page of the cover. The retailer must have routines for, and carry out, checks on age-ratings. The Norwegian Media Authority may aquire documentation for these routines and check-ups if needed.
Registering videos
If you are to sell or distribute video or DVD in Norway, the film must be registered by the Norwegian Media Authority. There is a fee and excise of (NOK 4.10) per movie copy. This applies to all formats (DVD / Blu-ray and the like), as well as Video On Demand if the server is based in Norway. There are three ways to register video;
This is by far the easiest approach, and is suitable for up to approx. 2,000 copies. You will recieve the stickers on a roll, by postal mail. They measure 1.7 x 2.4 cm and can be placed anywhere on the plastic packaging of the copies.
How to register and order stickers:
Fill in this online form.
Normally it will take about one week from submission until you have the stickers in the mail. Fee (NOK 0.60) and Excise (NOK 3.50) are invoiced on a single invoice.
This is meant for large editions of video to be sold over several years. Preprinting requires separate application and approval. This usually applies to what we can call main distributors for the Norwegian market. Films registered in this manner will be included in a list sent to the distributors every quarter: you fill these in with sales figures and send back to the Norwegian Media Authority. Then the fee and excise are invoiced.
Please find forms for registration of video, application for preprinting and reporting of sales.
Here you will find links to relevant laws and regulations.
