Copyright in Plain English
Copyright is a form of legal protection given to the creator of an original work. In music, it protects two separate things:
- The composition (the underlying song: the melody, chords, and lyrics), owned by the songwriter or composer.
- The master recording (the specific recorded version of that song), owned by the recording artist or label.
These are two different copyrights, and they can be owned by different people. When you record and release your own song, you usually own both.
When Does Copyright Begin?
Copyright exists automatically the moment your work is created and fixed in a tangible form, for example when you record a track or write down your lyrics. You do not have to register it for copyright to exist. Registration (with a national copyright office) is optional but gives you stronger legal standing if you ever need to enforce your rights in court.
What Rights Does Copyright Give You?
As the copyright owner you control who can:
- Reproduce or copy the work
- Distribute it to the public (which is what you authorise InterSpace to do on your behalf)
- Perform or stream it publicly
- Create derivative works, such as remixes or samples
How This Relates to InterSpace
You keep 100% ownership of your copyrights when you distribute with InterSpace. We never take ownership of your music. We simply deliver it to stores and services and collect the royalties on your behalf. To learn more, read Who Owns My Music When I Distribute with InterSpace?