What Is Copyright
Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive control over its use and distribution. In music, copyright protection arises automatically when a song is composed or recorded in a fixed form.
Two Copyrights in Music
Every recorded song contains two separate copyrights:
- Composition Copyright — Protects the underlying song (lyrics and melody). Owned by songwriters and publishers.
- Sound Recording Copyright (Master) — Protects the specific recording. Owned by the artist or record label.
Copyright Duration
- United States — Life of the author plus 70 years.
- European Union — Life of the author plus 70 years.
- Sound Recordings (US) — 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation.
Registering Copyright
While copyright exists automatically, registration provides additional legal benefits:
- Creates a public record of ownership.
- Enables statutory damages in infringement cases.
- Required before filing a lawsuit in the US.
- Register at the US Copyright Office (copyright.gov) or equivalent in your country.
Fair Use
Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education and parody. However, fair use is determined on a case-by-case basis and is not a blanket protection.
Protecting Your Work
- Register your copyrights promptly.
- Use ISRC and UPC codes for proper identification.
- Monitor for unauthorized use of your recordings.
- Use Content ID platforms to protect against infringement.
- Keep detailed records of creation and ownership.
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