Colourisation meaning

Colourisation is the post‑production process of adding colour to a black‑and‑white film (and often television programmes) to create a colour version for distribution, exhibition or broadcast. It is a descriptive industry term rather than one defined in UK or Irish legislation or case law, but is commonly used in audiovisual and copyright practice. Because colourisation entails copying and altering the cinematograph film, it ordinarily requires a licence from the film copyright owner and, where relevant, clearances from holders of underlying and related rights (for example, script, music and performers’ rights). It may engage moral rights, particularly the right of integrity (objection to derogatory treatment) and the right to be identified, so production, distribution and remake agreements frequently reserve approval rights or prohibit colourisation. Archive preservation exceptions do not authorise creative colourisation. If the original film is in the public domain, colourisation is generally permissible, but newly created colour elements will attract their own copyright and separate underlying rights may still need clearing. Usage and legal consequences are broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.