Knowledge of copyright law is essential to anyone who hopes to have a career in music. It fosters an environment where musicians and songwriters can share their creations with the public and know that their music will not be manipulated or misused without their consent and, most important, that they will be paid for their work. Without copyright law, there would be far less incentive for anyone to make music, and almost no incentive for record labels to produce, market, and sell it. Understanding copyright law is particularly relevant today, as Internet file sharing and CD burning have made music copyright law front-page news. In this book, David J. Moser provides students, educators, lawyers, and anyone in the music industry with a thorough understanding of copyright law, what it protects, the benefits of registering a copyright, and what to do when your copyright has been infringed. Controversies involving copyright and online music are also discussed in detail, with case studies of the recent blockbuster cases in this area, including the lawsuits against Napster, Grokster and more. Although written in clear and readable language, this book is an in-depth resource providing detailed explanations of copyright law's application to music and has been used as a text by institutions such as Fordham University Law School, Loyola University, New York University, Northeastern University and UCLA.
