Copyrights are among the most demanding intangible assets to value: the worth of a creative work is driven not by the cost of its creation, but by its capacity to generate income. The Kanzas company provides independent copyright valuation for businesses, rights holders and investors — from music catalogs and audiovisual content to broadcasting rights. Our team includes appraisers holding international valuation certifications, and our reports follow the International Valuation Standards (IVS), which makes them usable in cross-border transactions and disputes.
When a copyright valuation is required
Typical engagements include: contribution of copyright to a company's share capital; recognition of copyrights as intangible assets on the balance sheet under IFRS; pricing a license agreement or an assignment of rights — including the determination of an arm's-length royalty rate; purchase or sale of a catalog of works; inheritance matters; and litigation, where an independent assessment of the rights' value or of lost profits is required. Each report is prepared for the specific recipient — an auditor, a bank, a court or a counterparty in a transaction.
What we value
Under Ukrainian law, copyright covers literary and musical works, works of visual art, photographs, audiovisual works and databases; related (neighboring) rights cover performances, phonograms, videograms and broadcasts. We value individual works as well as rights portfolios: music catalogs, media content libraries, program format rights. Computer software is also protected by copyright — for software and web assets we offer a dedicated software and website valuation service.
Adjacent intellectual property objects — trademarks, inventions and patents and know-how — we value under their own dedicated services.
Valuation methodology: royalty relief and the income approach
The income approach is the primary methodology for copyright valuation. The relief-from-royalty method derives value from the license payments the owner would otherwise pay or receive for the use of the work; direct capitalization of income applies to assets with a stable earnings history, such as music catalogs monetized through streaming platforms. The cost approach plays a supporting role. The core of the appraiser's work is substantiating the royalty rate with market data — drawing where relevant on transfer pricing analysis — and analyzing the legal standing of the rights.
Copyright infringement and litigation support
Unauthorized use of a protected work gives rise to a claim for damages or statutory compensation. Courts require an independent calculation: the value of the rights, the amount of lost profits, or the basis for compensation. We prepare valuation reports designed to withstand scrutiny in court proceedings — including formal review — and, where needed, a separate lost profits calculation.
Questions and answers
How much does a copyright valuation cost and how long does it take? The fee depends on the type of asset and the purpose — from a single work to a catalog of thousands of items. Typical turnaround starts at 5 business days. Send us a description of the asset and we will quote a firm fee.
Is copyright registration required before a valuation? No. Copyright arises upon creation of the work. A registration certificate is useful evidence of ownership, but the valuation can rely on any documents confirming the rights — agreements, commissioning contracts, distribution records.
Can the valuation be used outside Ukraine? Our reports are prepared under the International Valuation Standards (IVS) and can support cross-border transactions, financial reporting and dispute resolution. For purposes that require a locally licensed appraiser in your jurisdiction, we recommend confirming the recipient's requirements in advance.
Contact us by email or messenger — we respond within one business hour.
