Research Guides: Copyright Guide: Music & Images

Music

Copyright issues are particularly complex with regard to music; these links are intended as only an introduction to the issues involved. The glossary recently posted on the Music Librarians' Association web site, below, may be helpful here.

Music Copyright Law by David J. Moser
ISBN: 9781435459731
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
Gain an in-depth understanding of a topic that is vital to the success of anyone in or entering the music industry, with MUSIC COPYRIGHT LAW. From songwriters and performers to managers, producers, and agents - everyone is affected by the issues covered in this book. Avoiding the technical jargon and "lawyerspeak" that bogs down other books on the subject, the book explores the world of copyright law and hones in on how it applies to music. It begins by building a foundational knowledge of the fundamentals of copyright law, what it protects, the benefits of registering a copyright, and what to do when copyright has been infringed. Once the fundamentals are established, coverage expands to include controversies involving copyright and music in the digital age and the debates over online music. Packed with practical examples that bring complex concepts to life, this book is a must-have for any professional in or entering music business.

MTNA Copyright Guidelines for Music Teachers
MTNA has assembled this Q&A piece on copyright issues that often arise for music teachers. This article addresses copyright law in general, the doctrines of fair use and public domain music, the educational use of copyrighted musical works, and recitals and recordings.

File Sharing

It is imperative to understand the difference between legal downloads and illegal file sharing. In the peer-to-peer file sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Although there are exceptions under the law that allow copying or distribution of protected works, the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) software programs to download or upload copyrighted music and movies without permission of the copyright owner would virtually never qualify for an exception. Criminal and civil penalties may result from copyright violation, in addition to disciplinary action by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College if it's network is involved in the process.

Here are some common examples of copyright infringement:

Joining a file sharing network and downloading unauthorized copies of copyrighted music for free.
Sharing unauthorized MP3 copies of a song on the Internet or through a file-sharing network.
Sharing copies of a copyrighted song with your friends through email, messaging or by giving them copies on burned CDs or flashdrives.

Do not install P2P file sharing software on your computer.

P2P applications will search for and share content on your computer with others. P2P applications usually run as soon as you turn on your computer and continue to run in the background. Even if you disable uploading, many P2P programs may reset preferences to resume uploading.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other content owners use the same P2P software to catch file sharers sharing their protected content with others. Content owners specifically target illegal file sharing on College networks.

License

The information in this guide was originally created by Boston College University Libraries and has been borrowed and modified for this specific institution under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.

This guide is designed to provide basic, general information about copyright, and does not constitute legal advice. The links to third party sites in this guide are provided for your convenience. Boston College does not take responsibility for the content of these other sites. If you have a question about a specific copyright issue not addressed by this guide, the Libraries encourage you to seek further advice.