How are music and other audio recordings protected?
A copyright in a sound recording protects recorded musical, spoken, or other sounds that do not accompany an audiovisual work.
Federal copyright protection of sound recordings has only been possible since 1972.
Any recordings made before 1972 are subject to different provisions..
How can music be copyrighted?
When you record a song, you may be creating two works that are protected by copyright: a musical work and a sound recording.
A sound recording and the music, lyrics, words, or other content included in the recording are separate copyright-protected works..
How do I protect my music from being stolen?
All you have to do is write your original song down on paper or record it, and you own the copyright.
Then, you are protected by law and others cannot use your song without your permission..
How much do you have to change a song to avoid copyright?
Only the owner of copyright in a work has the right to prepare, or to authorize someone else to create, a new version of that work.
Accordingly, you cannot claim copyright to another's work, no matter how much you change it, unless you have the owner's consent..
What are musical works under the copyright Act?
Musical works refers to written musical scores in the form of sheet music, broadsheets or other notation.
A recording of a musical work is protected separately as a sound recording.
Lyrics or words to a song are considered literary works, and they have a separate copyright to the musical score..
