Exclusive Rights

Copyright ownership of a musical work gives you the exclusive right to make copies, to prepare derivative works, to sell or distribute copies, and to perform the work publicly. Anyone else wishing to use your music in these ways must have permission to do so.

Copyright in a musical work also includes the right to make and distribute the first sound recording. Although others are permitted to make subsequent sound recordings, they must compensate the copyright owner of the musical work under the compulsory licensing provision of the law.

By registering the copyright for your music, you will be entitled to receive performance royalties whenever your composition is performed on radio, in bars or other public places.

Copyright in a sound recording protects against unauthorized reproduction and revision, unauthorized distribution of recording containing those sounds, and certain unauthorized performances by means of a digital audio transmission.

When you register a copyright, as the copyright owner you are granted certain exclusive rights including the exclusive right to:

• Reproduce the work.
• Prepare any derivative works based on your copyrighted work.
• Distribute copies of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease or lending.
• Perform the copyrighted work publicly.
• Authorize others to exercise these rights.

For works originally created on or after January 01, 1978, the duration of copyright protection is for a term for the author's life plus 70 years after the author's death. For works made for hire, the duration of copyright protection is 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first.

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