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Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Intellectual Property Law

Texas A&M University School of Law

Series

2014

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law

How Copyright Law May Affect Pop Music Without Our Knowing It, Peter K. Yu Dec 2014

How Copyright Law May Affect Pop Music Without Our Knowing It, Peter K. Yu

Faculty Scholarship

Commissioned for a symposium on copyright law and the creation of music, this article explores five questions about popular music that can be illuminated by greater insights into copyright law and the music business. Why do popular songs usually last for fewer than five minutes? Why are professional songwriters dissatisfied with Pandora and Spotify? Why can we bring European CDs back to the United States? Why can't YouTube videos be created with ASCAP/BMI licenses? Are digital downloads sales or licenses? And as a bonus: Why did the royalty rate for sheet music stay at seven cents per copy?

It is …