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Copyrighting Music
Music copyright - Copyrighting Musical Works - The copyright laws permit registration of sound recordings. Only sound recordings that have been "fixed" may be protected under the copyright laws. In other words, a work must be "recorded by any method now known or later developed" in order to receive protection.
Music Copyright - Three Aspects - There are three aspects of musical works that must be separately considered under the copyright laws. The first aspect is the sound recording itself. The sound recording embodies the actual sound of the music. The second is the visual transcription of the words and music involved in the musical work (the lyrics and sheet music). The third aspect is musical sound that is part of a motion picture or audiovisual work.
Music Copyright Registration - Generally, where a musical work is integrated with a motion picture or audiovisual work, the musical aspects of the movie are protected as part of the copyright on the motion picture itself. The musical aspects of a sound recording are generally registered separately from the transcription. Separate forms are used to register these two components of the musical work. However, it is possible to register the sound recording and transcription of the music together on a single application. This requires yet a different form. Combined registration can only be made of the claimant of both aspects of the musical work are the same.
Music copyrighting examples - There are generally four scenarios that arise from the application of these general rules. Each scenario calls for different forms and registration procedures. First, the songwriter may only wish to register the words and music alone and not a sound recording embodying these works. The soon might then be recorded by a recording artist who would register the embodiment of the music on a sound recording. Third, the music may be included in a motion picture as part of the copyright on the motion picture as a work of performing arts. Later, a CD may be released As a soundtrack of the motion picture. Generally speaking, if there are no significant modifications to the soundtrack, the registration of the motion picture would be applicable to the soundtrack release. If there are significant deviations in the soundtrack, a separate application would need to be perfected.
We are in the process of developing our step-by-step E-Books which will assist you in copyrighting musical works. Check back with this site for the availability of that product.
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Music Copyright Issues, copyrighting music, music copywrite information
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