Transcript Copyright Law

Copyright Law
An Review on Computer Music Files and
P2P File Sharing
Copyright:
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Copyright is a form of protection provided
by the laws of the United States (title 17,
US Code) to the authors of “original works
of authorship,” including literary, dramatic,
musical, artistic, and certain other
intellectual works. This protection is
available to both published and
unpublished works.
What is copyright ?
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The right to make copies from an original
piece of a new creation.
What are royalties?
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The copyright revenues ($$) shared
between all participants in the venture:
normally the composer, lyricist and the
publisher.
Two Types of Copyrights
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Creation Copyright:
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The composer owns this right to his music. In
most cases this copyright is assigned to a
publisher to "sell" the song.
Recording performance production copyright:
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The right of a performing artist to create their
specific interpretation (production/performance)
of the song/music which was already recorded .
You have broken the Law if you;
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burn CDs for your friends
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download songs using P2P systems
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make photo copies of copyrighted material
What are Computer Music Files ?
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Computer music files are another form of
recording music.
You may substitute Computer Music Files
with MIDI, MOD, WAV, RA, RMI, MP3,…
Copyright laws apply to all formats of
Music in any form
“digital sheet music”
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MIDI is the most
common form
MIDI files can be
transformed into
printed music
.
Public Domain
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Public domain means the copyright has
expired . This is the case for music where
the creator is dead for more than 50 years,
in most countries now even 75 years.
Most popular songs are not even half this
old and are not yet in the public domain.
Mozart’s music=Public Domain
Eminem’s music=NOT in the public domain
What is P2P
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P2P stands for "peer-to-peer."
When we use P2P software, our
computer's hard drive becomes a server
that allows someone else to access files
stored on our computer.
In short: Another computer user can
connect directly to our computer and
download whatever music files we've
stored there.
P2P File Sharing Systems
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Kazaa
Ares
Gnutella
Grokster
Morpheus
Sharing music on
these sites is illegal
File transfers
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Downloading: From a P2P network user's
point-of-view, downloading is receiving a
song from another computer.
Uploading: From a P2P network user's
point-of-view, to upload a song is to send
it to another computer user.
I don’t upload so I’m ok. Right?
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Wrong: Both downloading and uploading
music is illegal.
Currently uploading activity is the central
focus of lawsuits, but this is changing.
Use of P2P systems can result in legal fees
and civil penalties, which range from $750
to $150,000 or more per violation.
Review
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Copyright
Royalties
Computer Music Files
Digital Sheet Music
P2P
File Transfers
Public Domain