Copyright Law on Jingles
Copyright law is complicated, but in simple terms, the creator of the copyrighted work owns the rights to that work. This is called intellectual property. Two parts of music, lyrics and melody can be copyrighted. It is illegal to reproduce either of these without the owner's consent. The creator also owns the rights to recordings of his or her song or jingle.
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How to Copyright
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Technically, a work is copyrighted from the time it is created. However, it is much easier to prove ownership with a formal copyright. This can be obtained from the U.S. copyright office at www.copyright.gov.
How Long Does a Copyright Last?
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The length of a copyright can change according to whether or not the work was published and when was published. Generally speaking, if the work was first published after Jan. 1, 1978, then the copyright will expire 70 years after the death of its creator.
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Fair Use
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Fair use is an exemption in copyright law that allows someone other than the owner to reproduce fragments of the work for reasons that include news reporting, parody, or education. For a person to use the fair use defense in a copyright case, he or she must not harm the commercial value of the work.
How do you Find the Owner of a Copyright?
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Information on the owner of a copyright is available at the U.S. copyright office. There is no fee if you perform the search in person.
Public Domain
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If a copyright expires or the owner of the work waves his or her rights, then the work is considered in the public domain. This means it can be reproduced freely without fear of a lawsuit.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of umjanedoan
