Music - Background & Getting Started

This guide, and the links contained herein, are in no way meant to provide legal advice. Copyright laws are complicated and there is often no clear right or wrong. This guide is only meant to lead you toward resources that can help you make choices concerning copyright. If you need any additional help finding copyright resources, ask a reference librarian, but for actual legal advice, please ask a lawyer!

• Music Copyright Tutorials

Created by the William & Mary Music Library, these tutorials provide an overview to music copyright for musical compositions and sound recordings.

• Columbia University Copyright Advisory Office

A go-to guide for any and all copyright questions pertaining to publishing, preservation, and higher education.

• Copyright Law of the United States

The full text of US copyright law.

• Creative Commons

"Creative Commons is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to making it easier for people to share and build upon the work of others, consistent with the rules of copyright."

• U.S. Copyright Office

The US Copyright Office's homepage. This can lead you to many useful resources.

• What do You Know About Copyright?

• Free Music Archive