Abstract: In the past, we listened to songs for free on various music platforms, and we could download them at will. But now more and more musicians are beginning to pay attention to song copyright issues, and there are many songs that we want to listen to. All have to pay. This is mainly because the music included on the platform has copyrights purchased from singers. In order to make a profit, these songs are set to be paid or exclusive to VIPs. What is music copyright? What are the ways to infringe music copyright? Let’s learn more about it together. What is music copyright?

Music copyright refers to the legal rights that creators of musical works enjoy over their creations. Mainly include: property rights such as performance rights, copy rights, broadcast rights, network transmission rights, and signature rights of musical works, as well as moral rights such as the right to protect the integrity of the work.

Celebrities, artists, and individuals are not allowed to cover songs, spoof, or adapt original songs at concerts, TV shows, online broadcasts, public events, etc., without the consent of the original work, otherwise they will be punished. The original company sued for huge infringement fees.

What are the ways to infringe music copyright?

1. Publish the work without the permission of the copyright owner.

2. Publish a work created in collaboration with others as a work created alone without the permission of the co-author.

3. Signing other people’s works for the purpose of seeking personal fame and fortune without participating in the creation.

4. Distorting or tampering with other people’s works.

5. Use the work in the form of performance, broadcast, exhibition, distribution, film, television, video or adaptation, translation, editing, etc. without the permission of the copyright owner.

6. Using other people’s works without paying remuneration as required.

7. Broadcasting the performance live without the performer’s permission.

8. The author publishes his own work and commissioned works without the consent of the legal person or client.

9. Dealing with the copyright inherited by *** without the consent of other legal heirs.

10. Modifying the work without the author’s consent.

11. Plagiarism or copying other people’s works.

12. Copying and distributing the works for profit without the permission of the copyright owner.

13. Publish books for which others have exclusive publishing rights.

14. Making audio and video recordings of the performers’ performances and publishing them without their permission.

15. Copying and distributing audio and video recordings without the permission of the audio and video producers.

16. Copying and distributing radio and television programs produced by radio stations and television stations without their permission.

17. Producing and selling works of art that counterfeit the signature of others.

18. Importing or distributing copies of copyright-infringing works and providing conditions for the reproduction of copyright-infringing works.

Who does the music copyright belong to?

According to relevant laws and regulations, the copyright of a song is divided into two parts: lyrics and sheet music. Lyrics are classified as "written works" under copyright law, while musical scores are classified as "musical works". Therefore, the copyright of the lyrics belongs to the lyricist, and the copyright of the musical score belongs to the composer.

If the songwriter and the music company sign a copyright transfer contract, the copyright will be transferred to the music company. The singer is only a "performer" as stipulated in the copyright law, not the copyright holder of the lyrics and music, and does not have any copyright in the lyrics and music itself. Because the song does not refer to the audio file we hear, but the lyrics and music score, and the lyrics and music score have nothing to do with the singer.

Of course, except for singer-songwriters who write lyrics and music themselves, they have the dual status of songwriters and performers for the songs they "compose and sing", and enjoy the rights of both copyright holders and performers.