A
performance rights organisation (
PRO), also known as a performing rights society, provides intermediary functions, particularly collection of
royalties, between copyright holders and parties who wish to use copyrighted works
publicly in locations such as shopping and dining venues. Legal consumer purchase of works, such as buying CDs from a music store, confer
private performance rights. PROs usually only collect royalties when use of a work is incidental to an organisation's purpose. Royalties for works essential to an organisation's purpose, such as theaters and radio, are usually negotiated directly with the rights holder.