Music Notation Copyright

"Musical work” refers to a work that is made of music and encompasses any graphical notation of such work but does not contain any words or any action meant to be sung, spoken or performed with the music.  A musical work need not be written down to obtain Copyright protection. Example: Written work of lyricist, composer and rights of the singer.

In order to protect the originality and creator’s hard work, obtaining a copyright against the work is the most sought after way. Copyright protection is a kind of intellectual property that provides similar right as to the owner of a tangible property. The owner of the property can use, may give it on lease, and sell it. Likewise, the protection provided by Copyright to the efforts of writers, artists, designers, dramatists, musicians, architects and producers of sound recordings, cinematograph films and computer software, creates a conductive environment to creativity, which persuades them to create more and motivates others to create.

In most of the cases, the copyright for the music notation remains with the composer who claims to become its sole owner. Since music notes are made in written format, the composer is meant to write down the copyright notice on the first page. It is still an optional choice and there is no problem in making an exception and not following it. In most cases, the composer, who carries the copyright of the music notes, sells half of it to the publisher, who then files for the copyright of the music. In such cases where the composer has sold the rights of the music thoroughly, the publisher submitsdocuments for the total ownership. Though, the music notes are transcribed on a paper, that single piece of paper is protected by rigorous rights.

That piece of paper on which the notes are written, cannot be copied, put on the internet, publicly performed or decoded into recordings. However, written permission allows for non-profit performance of the music in the colleges, schools and churches etc.