Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Commons^™

Too Much Of A Good Thing: Deciphering Copyright Infringement For The Musician, Joseph K. Christian

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Imitation may indeed be flattering, but at least in the world of music, too much imitation is illegal. Copyright law protects "original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression. "It guarantees the owner of a copyrighted work the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, display, and publicly perform the work, among other rights. To the owner of a copyright in music, that means that no one else may perform the musical work, or make or distribute copies of the original manuscript or a recording of the work, without the permission of the copyright owner.'