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