Fixing up a song that hits every chord is a long and arduous process. From choosing the structure to finding the melody in your lyric, the entire process of music creation can take anywhere between 3 to 30 months. As you pour your heart and soul into every piece of music you create, you definitely won’t want anyone else to steal your credit, or worse, make revenue from it!
To protect your music from plagiarism, you must get music copyright. However, it is not as easy as it sounds, as obtaining music copyright involves a lot of documentation and paperwork. If you are looking to get music copyright, chances are you might have a lot of questions, such as how long a copyright lasts and what exactly copyright protects. To answer all these questions, here is everything you should know about music copyright:
What is music copyright?
As per the Copyright Act, 1957, copyright in any work or form gives the owner a legal right over his creation, hence preventing others from plagiarising, stealing, and copying it.
For music copyright, things can get a bit complicated as a song is not considered to be a single piece of work. Why? Well, for the creation of a song, the skills of several individuals are employed, including a lyricist, producer, singer, and composer, and each of them is entitled to copyright their own contribution. In contrast, if you have composed, sung, and written the entire song on your own, you can claim the copyright for the entire piece.
Now, since you know what music copyright is, let us move to the 5 things you should know about it:
5 things you definitely need to know about music copyright
- What copyright law helps to protect?
The music copyright law helps in giving an owner the legal rights to his/her contribution. By legal rights, we mean only the owner can use it and leverage it to make revenue. In case anyone else copies it, plagiarises it, or steals it for commercial purposes, the copyright owner can sue that person for copyright infringement.
So, if you are a lyricist, the copyright will protect your lyrics in the song. Similarly, if you are a composer, the copyright will protect your background music in the song. Finally, if you are a singer, the copyright will protect your recordings or copies. Hence, this is how music copyright protects everyone who has contributed to a song.
- How long does your copyright last?
Copyright in any field of work generally lasts for up to 60 years. For original artistic and musical works, this 60-year period starts from the year following the death of the copyright owner.
- What rights do you have once you own a copyright in your work?
So, you have passed the rigorous process of getting a copyright for your work. But what exactly does it entail?
It means that a lyricist will get the right for his lyrics in the song. Similarly, a composer will get the rights for the background music that is used in the song. Finally, a singer will get the rights for his recordings or copies.
- How to enforce your rights?
After getting copyright, you find that a person has been using your work as his own for commercial purposes. This violates your rights as a copyright owner. Hence, as a copyright owner, you will be entitled to the remedies provided by the law through which you can seek damages from the violator. In simpler words, as a copyright owner, you can enforce your rights by filing a copyright infringement case.
- How to record and perform cover songs?
Till now, our entire discussion has been around what music copyright is, how long does it last, what rights does it give you, and how you can enforce your rights. However, if you are a singer who likes to record and perform cover songs, then the copyright law could prove to be a big challenge for you. But there is a way around this problem, and that is through obtaining a mechanical license from the copyright owner.
Beatoven Music – A copyright-free music library
Yes, copyright laws do provide legal protection to musicians and artists. But what about budding content creators who need to have access to songs to boost their careers? Don’t worry, as we have the perfect platform for you!
Beatoven music, a copyright-free music library, is a haven for those who don’t have the resources to get a mechanical license or permission from copyright owners. As they offer copyright-free music to anyone and everyone, it is the one-stop solution for those who need copyright-free music for YouTube and other content channels. Plus, it is powered by AI and lets you create your own tracks. Overall, be it copyright-free music for Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, Beatoven music is the only platform you’ll ever need!
