DJ Copyright Laws
Copyright laws apply to DJs just like everybody else. DJs own copyrights in the songs they create. When recording or performing live, sampling and mixing of other artists' songs raise copyright issues that DJs should understand.
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Copyright Basics
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The Copyright Act protects original works "fixed in a tangible medium." This includes any recorded songs, digital or otherwise.
Copyright Infringement
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Without permission, any copying sampling or re-mixing of another artist's song constitutes copyright infringement.
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Sampling
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In a famous case, Bridgeport Music, Inc. et. al. vs. Dimension Films et. al., a court decided that even a snippet constitutes infringement if the defendant "digitally sampled a copyrighted sound recording."
Licensing
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Licensing ensures a DJ can use a song sample without legal trouble. Contact the artist, publisher or record label to obtain a license.
Original Work
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DJs that write songs have automatic copyrights for those songs in the U.S. Registering songs with the U.S. Copyright Office provides full legal protection.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit dj wave 16 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
Comments
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Also on the same thought, what if someone gives you a cd with a song they want to dance to? Do I have to run those songs through copyright aproval before playing them?
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What about being a DJ at a party room at an apartment building or a private party?
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bowi
Jun 30, 2010
Very useful short article! I guess this is the same for VJs... ?
