Terms of use

Tips & Tricks

When it comes to a copyrighted song, typically the publisher controls the song and the record label controls the master (that is, the actual recording of the song). Using copyrighted songs without permission or paying for them can result in legal trouble.The Creative Commons license is an international standard that provides clear terms under which a piece of media or content can be reused, reworked or republished. It also specifies what kind of credit, or attribution, is necessary when you use the material.

Burning Question

What is intellectual property law? When you come up with a great idea, you don’t want someone else to copy it and take the credit. Intellectual property law gives you the right to make money from your ideas. If someone else creates a copy of your original idea, the law says you are owed compensation.

Common Mistake

Misunderstanding copyright. Some songs – like “Happy Birthday” – are considered “public domain” material. That does not mean “publicly available”. Rather, it means that copyright has expired and the material is no longer under copyright protection. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, but no one can ever own it.