Should
You Be Concerned About Music Copyright
Laws ?
Make Sure You Know Who Has
Rights to the Song
Let's face it ... Who doesn't
want to get their music played on the radio, or
maybe even satellite? And who doesn't want to win a
Grammy award someday for best original song, or
best album, or best new artist for that matter?
Hold On -- Better Learn
About The Music Copyright Law First
But for those of us brand-new
in this business, there is much to learn about
music copyright law. Now that I'm trying to write
my own songs, I guess there's no better time to get
an education about the ins and out of this rather
nebulous arena.
How Do Music Copyright Laws
Affect You As A Singer Or Musician?
Learning when and where
copyright laws for songs goes into effect is the
place to start.
It's not enough just to find
a song you like, record it, and forget it. Someone
else might still own it!!
You Can Use Happy
Birthday With No Problem
Since the first writing I did
was just penning new tunes to two- and
three-hundred year old hymns at church, I didn't
really have much to worry about. I was using lyrics
that were public domain (sort of like "Happy
Birthday" -- when it's public domain, you can sing
someone else's tunes or lyrics without winding up
in jail), so I didn't have to worry about protected
rights.
One Answer Is To Rummage
Through The Public Domain
Using these types of songs
and lyrics is the way to go for beginners, but I've
advanced beyond that point now. I'm trying to write
my own stuff, and I don't want someone else getting
credit for it, which is why I needed to find out
how the copyright law for music works.
Why Have Music Copyright
Laws?
These laws protect composers,
publishers, and arrangers from having their work
stolen or tampered with in any way.
How Long Do They Last?
In essence, United States
music copyright law guarantees that the
creator/owner of the original material has the
exclusive rights to that material as long as
they're alive, plus 50 years!
For songs written before
1978, the time frame is 75 years. That way, the
creative folks that penned their own songs and
lyrics get all the credit for them, as well as any
monetary gain from their sale or broadcast. It's a
really good system, if you ask me.
The Other Side Is That
Your Songs Are Protected Under The Music Copyright
Laws Too!
The best way to protect what
you've written, what some call your "intellectual
property," is to register what your songs or lyrics
with the appropriate government agency.
Get Legal Advice
A good attorney is really
worth your time in this regard, even if it's just
in the capacity of advising you on how and where to
start. The Internet is full of resources and
references for music copyright laws, including some
well-known sites that can give you step-by-step
information on safeguarding your work, all of which
can be done online. And you can find attorneys who
specialize in our business (that's where I found my
lawyer).
Now, Take Pen In Hand And
Protect What You've Written
So I'm glad that I did a
little bit of homework, and I'm hoping that when
Steven Spielberg decides to use what I've written
as the soundtrack for his next summer blockbuster,
I'll be ready to sit back, relax, and watch those
lovely royalty checks flow right into my mailbox!
Written your first song yet?
Singing Tips for Beginners
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