What is Copyright?

The Copyright Act usually gives the copyright owner the exclusive right to do and to authorize others to do the following:

To reproduce the work in written copies, mp3s, Cds, Dvds etc;

To prepare derivative works based upon the work;

To distribute the written copies or Cds/Dvds of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;

To perform the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works;

To display the copyrighted work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and

In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.

How do I protect my original music compositions?

There are a few things that you can do to ensure that your work is protected:

1. Somewhere on your sheet music (usually at the top or bottom) you should put the symbol (the letter C in a circle) and/or the word Copyright;

2. Write down the first year of publication of the music. E.g. 2005;

3. Include the name of the composer.

4. You can post yourself a sealed copy of your own work, which, when it arrives will have a date stamped on it.

Do not open the envelope.

Store it in a safe place.

5. Register your work with the music copyright association in your country. In Australia it is the Australian Performing Right Association. These days, you can join and submit work online.