Music Resources

U.S. Copyright & Music

This page provides information on United States Copyright Law and how it pertains to music. The information on this page is for personal research and should not be considered legal advice.

Copyright is a form of legal protection that allows authors, photographers, composers, and other creators to control some reproduction and distribution of their work. These rights have exceptions and limitations, including the "fair use" provisions, which allows certain uses without permission of the copyright holder.

For more information on copyright in general, please visit the UH Libraries Copyright Libguide.

Fair Use

Use these guides from the University of Louisville to help decide if something can be considered fair use.

Fair Use Four Factor Analysis
The four factors of Fair Use in Depth
Fair Use Checklist
A checklist to guide you through your Fair Use decisiion
Fair Use Guidelines
General information regarding Fair Use

Public Domain & Creative Commons

Public Domain refers to works that have intellectual property rights that have expired, have been forfeited (as in Creative Commons), or have been waived. These works are free to use without needing to obtain rights permission. Music recordings are copyright protected separately from musical compositions. There are no sound recordings in the Public Domain in the USA.

PD Info- Public Domain Music
A reference site to help identify public domain songs and public domain music . . . lists of public domain music, royalty free music recordings you can license, and public domain sheet music reprints.
Library Copyright Digital Slider
Use this handy guide to help determine if a work first published in the USA is still under copyright or in public domain!
Creative Commons Copyright
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools. Our free, easy-to-use copyright licenses provide a simple, standardized way to give the public permission to share and use your creative work — on conditions of your choice.

Licensing

ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
BMI
Broadcast Music, Inc. collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it distributes as royalties to songwriters, composers & music publishers. This is one of a couple of sites you can search to see if something is still under copyright.
copyrightlaws.com : Copyright, Licensing, Digital Property
A portal for copyright and licensing information for creators, owners, distributors, and consumers of content.
Harry Fox Agency
HFA is the foremost mechanical licensing, collection, and distribution agency for music publishers in the U.S.
Music and Money Quiz
How much do you know about money and music, and the copyright laws, licenses and agreements that frequently determine who gets paid, and how much? Take one – or all – of these quizzes and see how you measure up!
Music Copyright Infringement Online Archive
Columbia Law Library- examples of copyright infringement
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
RIAA is the trade organization that supports and promotes the creative and financial vitality of the major music companies. Its members are the music labels that comprise the most vibrant record industry in the world. RIAA® members create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate recorded music produced and sold in the United States.

Other Music Copyright Sites

Copyright for Music Librarians
A site maintained by the Legislation Committee of the Music Library Association (MLA) as a resource for anyone interested in issues of copyright as they apply to the fields of music and music librarianship.
Copyright Resource Center of the Music Publishers' Association
The Music Publishers Association is the oldest music trade organization in the United States, fostering communication among publishers, dealers, music educators, and all ultimate users of music. This non-profit association addresses itself to issues pertaining to every area of music publishing with an emphasis on the issues relevant to the publishers of print music for concert and educational purposes.

University of Houston Libraries

Music Resources

U.S. Copyright & Music

Fair Use

Public Domain & Creative Commons

Licensing

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