| Music is copyrighted as soon as you present it in a | | | | express permission of the holder of the copyright. |
| fixed form. It doesn't matter whether that fixed form is | | | | Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between Fair Use |
| written sheet music or a recording. Most people who | | | | and copyright infringement. Copyrighted music pays |
| copyright music do so for the extra legal protection. | | | | musicians royalties, while Fair Use will not take those |
| Even though a copyright is good to have, it is | | | | future payments from the authors for the sake of |
| essentially worthless unless you've registered your | | | | personal entertainment. |
| copyright with the Library of Congress. You will need | | | | Fair Use was once thought to mean that if you |
| to fill out an application, pay a fee, and provide a copy | | | | weren't making money from the copy or use of |
| of your music. As far as government dealings go, this | | | | materials then it was allowable. This is one of the |
| is one of the least painful. Even the application fee is | | | | arguments that was used when defending massive file |
| marginal when you consider the fact you are | | | | sharing servers; the defense, however, falls flat of the |
| protecting potential future profits and royalties from | | | | law. It is illegal to share copyright music, consecutive |
| your music. | | | | notes, lyrics, tabs, chords, or any other part of the |
| Even if you aren't a talented performer, it doesn't | | | | music. The only case in which copying of music is |
| mean your music will never be seen or heard, nor | | | | clearly allowable is when used for non-profit education |
| does it mean you should not bother copyrighting your | | | | and educational research, for the purpose of criticism, |
| music. One day you might find yourself more in | | | | commentary, and news reporting. According to |
| demand for your talents than you ever dreamed | | | | copyright law, ripping your CDs is an infringement of |
| possible. It is important to protect your music now | | | | copyright. |
| more than ever before in history due to widespread | | | | The result of massive file sharing has prompted new |
| music piracy and illegal music file-sharing. | | | | laws to address the problem and provide a clearer |
| Once you understand how to copyright music, you | | | | definition of what is not allowable. According to recent |
| should copyright every sheet of music which you have | | | | amendments, you must have the express permission |
| produced. This involves registering each and every | | | | of the performer to fix the sounds or images into any |
| piece of music with the Library of Congress. Even if | | | | type of phonorecord, to transmit these sounds to |
| you must copyright one piece at a time until you | | | | others, or to offer to distribute, sell, or rent any of the |
| manage to copyright all of them, it is much better to be | | | | copyrighted material. That about sums up file sharing in |
| safe than sorry should you ever go to trial in a | | | | a nutshell and clearly establishes the practice as illegal. |
| copyright infringement case. | | | | Many musicians and artists copyright music, lyrics, and |
| Copyright Music, Consecutive Notes, and Fair Use | | | | performances to protect those things from abuse, |
| Copyright music, consecutive notes, and lyrics are all | | | | misuse, and to protect their interests. While some may |
| covered under the blanket of copyright protection. | | | | be artists who perform for the sake of the art, most |
| Once you've registered your copyright you have legal | | | | of them are not independently wealthy and need the |
| recourse should someone steal or "borrow" any part | | | | income that results from the sales of their music. Many |
| of your music without permission. Many websites | | | | have families to feed as well as fabulous lifestyles. |
| which publish lyrics to your favorite song are actually | | | | Regardless of their inherent needs for the funds, |
| infringing on the copyright of the author and the | | | | they've provided a service (entertainment) that we |
| recording artist. It is not legal to use any part of the | | | | place a certain value on and they deserve to get paid |
| song that isn't covered by Fair Use without the | | | | for the services they provide. |