Number: RL33631
Title: Copyright Licensing in Music Distribution, Reproduction, and Public Performance
Authors: Brian T. Yeh, American Law Division 
Abstract: This report provides an overview of the complexities of the Copyright Act's provisions concerning music licensing in the digital age. Copyright law provides protection for original works of authorship by conferring certain exclusive rights upon their creators. Music is an example of a kind of literary and artistic work that falls squarely within the scope of copyright law. The realm of music copyright is characterized by two types of copyright holders: the holder of the musical work and the holder of the sound recording. The musical work copyright holder is typically the one who composes the piece of music. The sound recording copyright holder is the recorder of a rendition of the musical work.
Pages: 26
Date: January 29, 2008