Question

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PLEASE READ
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\(\bf \huge \text{COPYRIGHT}\)

If music or lyrics are under copyright protection:

* you CANNOT reproduce the music or lyrics

* you CANNOT distribute the music or lyrics either for free, for no profit, or for profit

* you CANNOT perform the music or lyrics in public

* you CANNOT play a recording of the music or lyrics in public--even if you own the CD

* you CANNOT make a derivative work or arrangement for public use in any form
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Read below for more information. Thank you.

Answer 1

\(\bf \huge \text{Public Domain}\)
Copyrights eventually expire and the owner no longer has no exclusive rights. All compositions not protected under copyright law are said to be in the public domain. A work is in the public domain when no one on this entire planet can find any law which gives them legal claim to that property. Public domain is the complete absence of any law allowing ownership of a property. If you can prove that a composition is in the public domain, you can use the work any way you can imagine. You can arrange, reproduce, perform, record, publish it, and use or sell it commercially any way you like.

\(\bf \huge \text{Musical Works & Sound Recordings}\)
A Musical Work and a Sound Recording of a Musical Work have separate and extremely different copyright protection. For example, The children's song, "Mary Had A Little Lamb" is absolutely in the public domain worldwide, and it can be freely used by anyone. However, in the USA, no sound recordings of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" are in the public domain. It is imperative that you understand the difference between a musical work and a sound recording when using public domain music.
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Musical Work, Song, Composition
Lyrics, Melody, and Musical Arrangement of Notes that Define a Song or Musical Composition Sheet Music


Sound Recording
The Process of Fixing Music or Sound on a Medium that can Reproduce and Play Back the Music upon Demand CD, Record, MP3, WAV
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\(\bf \huge \text{Rule of Thumb for Domain Music}\)
Musical Works published with a valid Copyright Notice of 1922 or Earlier are in the public domain in the United States.
Essentially ALL Sound Recordings are under copyright protection until 2067 in the United States.
Copyright protection outside the USA is determined by the laws of the country where you wish to use a work. Copyright protection may be 50 to 70 years after the death of the last surviving author, 95 years from publication date, or other copyright protection term.
\(\bf \huge \text{Process Of CopyRight}\)
For a new song or other work, copyright begins at the moment of fixation — when the music and lyrics have been set down on paper, recorded, or stored on a computer. Copyright protects the musician even if the song is never registered with the Copyright Office. Mailing a copy of the work to yourself provides no additional legal protection and is unlikely to prove useful evidence for establishing the date a song was written.

The copyright in the composition is distinct from the copyright in the sound recording. Generally speaking, the sound recording can be thought of as the master — the recorded performance of the composition. When registering a newly published song, the musician should be sure to protect the copyright in the composition separately from the copyright in the sound recording.

While not required, registration of published music or recordings has a number benefits. Copyright registration provides the right to seek attorneys' fees and statutory damages. Registration will be required prior to filing a lawsuit to enforce the copyright.

Registration is also simple. Until recently, a musician would file a Form-PA with the Copyright Office. While this is still possible, the Copyright Office has removed the Form-PA from its website (www.copyright.gov) to encourage users to file electronically. Registration should be done on Form-CO. This form is used for both the composition and the sound recording. The cost of filing is $35.00 for electronic filing or $45.00 for paper filing. Paper filing also takes the Copyright Office significantly longer to complete. In addition to the registration, two copies of the published composition must also be deposited with the Copyright Office.

There is little or no value to registering a composition until it has been published. This typically means selling or distributing copies of the song to the public. Posting a new recording or video to YouTube will constitute publication. Live performance of a song does not publish the song.
\(\bf \huge \text{Outcome Of Copyright}\)

Civil Lawsuits

The first line of defense for copyright holders is civil litigation, in which the owner of a copyright sues a transgressor in civil court. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, copyright owners can sue for an injunction – a legal mandate to stop reproducing or otherwise profiting from copyrighted material – or financial restitution. Restitution can add up to significant amounts of money for lost revenue, damaged reputation and court costs on the part of the copyright holder.


Criminal Charges

In addition to making financial restitution to copyright holders, those caught breaking copyright law can face serious criminal penalties. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, first-time copyright infringement cases can carry a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years in prison. If you get caught more than once in a copyright-infringement case, you could face additional fines of up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison.


Damaged Reputation

The kinds of penalties laid out for violators of copyright law can make compelling headlines, which can place you or your company in a very negative spotlight in the business and legal press. Even if you can avoid prison time and take care of the required fines and restitution, you may find that your reputation is tarnished or ruined among consumers, competitors, suppliers and potential strategic partners. Breaking copyright laws represents a fundamental lack of integrity and trustworthiness, which is important to virtually every internal and external stakeholder of any organization.


End Result

All of these potential consequences combined can result in lost money and lost demand for your business, potentially leading to business bankruptcy, personal bankruptcy and the failure of your business. Breaking copyright laws is one of those gambles that can generate seemingly large sums of money in the short term, but can result in devastating financial loss in the long run. The best way to take advantage of a competitor's copyrights is to redesign and improve upon their copyrighted materials in your own unique way with your own legal copyright protection.
\(\bf \huge \text{Think About It}\)
Please do not copy right any lyrics not only is it a violation on OpenStudy but a large and well enforced law across the world! It's not worth it, eventually you will get caught and face a large amount of time behind bars as well as charges and fees!
\(\bf \huge \text{Links}\)
http://info.legalzoom.com/things-can-happen-caught-breaking-copyright-laws-20296.html

http://www.copyright.gov/

http://www.copyrightkids.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright

Answer 2

Please remember that this was to protect the future of those creating music and to know. Copyright is a very easy access to a pat on the back however after caught the charges and those friends will turn negatively. Please also note that I am not calling anyone on here and only creating this to educate those who want to get into music. Thank you and have a nice day.

Answer 3

Do you want me to do anything?

Answer 4

cool doe

Answer 5

copyright

Answer 6

so what your saying is the cocaine is bad in this one ( lil waine )

Answer 7

I know you said "please" but that's just way too much to read :/

Got it though.. "No copyright"

Answer 8

Nicely done! Many people ignore copyrights and get the consequence when it is too late...

Answer 9

RULES RULES RULES

Answer 10

Great job!

Answer 11

so many rules lol

Answer 12

BORING :)

Answer 13

This must have been copied and pasted through a freaking Government file or something.

Answer 14

FINALLY SOME ONE POSTS COPYRIGHT LAYS HERE!!

Answer 15

Oh mei..