Industry expert Christopher Sabec answers some of the most fundamental but critical questions about music copyright laws. Watch this presentation to develop your knowledge and learn to defend yourself against copyright infringement.

1. THE 5 MOST FREQUENT LY
ASKED MUSIC COPYRIGHT
QUEST IONS
ANSWERS BY INDUSTRY
EXPERT CHRISTOPHER SABEC

2. Any musician who is
looking to make it in the
industry will need to
know the basics about
copyright law.
Your ignorance can
leave you unprotected
to thieves and pirates
looking to take the
credit for your hard
work.

3. Don’t let that happen! Read these FAQ answers
from industry expert Christopher Sabec to build
a strong foundational knowledge that can defend
you against copyright infringement and potential
legal issues.

4. WHAT IS A COPYRIGHT ?
A copyright is the legal right
that protects your original
work.
It’s what stops other people from
claiming your song or video as
their own and its what gives you
the unique right to sell, distribute,
and perform the work.
With a copyright, you have the right
to adapt and rearrange your music,
the ability to reproduce it, and the
legal right to license others to do all
of the above and more.

5. WHEN DOES I T START ?
Technically, copyright
protection starts as soon as
you begin creating.
The US Copyright Office explains
that creation occurs when music
and/or lyrics are “fixed in a tangible
form.”
Although this is purposefully vague,
it can be invoked if lyrics are down
on paper, instrumental portions are
recorded, or if you have begun
music creation on a digital audio
workstation.

6. DO I NEED TO REGISTER?
The bottom line is this:
you don’t need to register with the US Copyright Office to get
copyright protection but you do if you ever want to enforce your
rights legally.
If you suffer from copyright infringement, you will need to have a
registered copyright in order to sue and claim damages in court.

7. HOW LONG DOES I T LAST
Unlike patents, which only last 14-20 years, a copyright will
protect your work for your entire life, plus an additional 70
years.
If you’ve worked on the music, video, etc. with other people,
the copyright will typically extend to 70 years beyond the death
of the last living author.
At that point, it will enter the “public domain,” the set of works
whose legal protection rights have expired, including those of
Shakespeare and Beethoven, among others.

8. W H A T I S “ F A I R U S E ? ”
Fair use refers to the legal
privilege which allows people
to use your copyrighted work
without permission in some
special cases.
The purpose of the law is to
encourage innovation through
remixes, critiques, and comments.
It’s not a magical phrase you can
use to steal someone else’s work,
but it can be invoked for things like
educational purposes.

9. To learn more about this critical topic, read the
rest of Christopher Sabec’s Copyright Law blog
and stay tuned for future updates.

10. http://christophersabec.net/