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Library Subject Guides

Copyright at UC: Music

Music

UC has a licence with APRA, AMCOS and Recorded Music (formerly PPNZ) to cover music and performance copyright. See the OneMusic guidance (PDF, 230KB) for details.

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) collects and distributes licence fees for the public performance and communication of their members' musical works.

The Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) collects and distributes mechanical royalties for the reproduction of their members' musical works.

Recorded Music NZ is the industry representation, advocacy and licensing organisation for recording artists and their labels.

Under this licence you are able to do the following:

What you can do

APRA/Recorded Music
OneMusic License.

AMCOS

Perform in public for educational purposes

X

 

Communicate for educational purposes

X

 

Make copies for educational purposes

 

X

Making digital or physical copies of sound recordings for performance, instruction or electronic presentation. X  

 

APRA AMCOS & Recorded Music NZ – what’s the difference?

While APRA AMCOS administers the copyright of songs and compositions (most easily described as what can be written as sheet music), Recorded Music NZ administers the ‘sound recording’ copyrights of music for record companies and their recording artists.

Excerpt above from https://apraamcos.co.nz/music-creators/copyright/

Sheet Music General Copyright Information

There is generally more than one owner of copyright in any given piece of sheet music.

Party

Copyright owned

Composer

Copyright of the musical work

Lyricist

Copyright of the literary work

Arranger

Copyright of the arrangement of the work

Publisher

Copyright of the published edition (typographical arrangement)

Copyright has different durations for each element – see the tab “How long does it last for?” on the General Information page of this guide.

The copyright owners of musical works and lyrics have a number of exclusive rights, including the rights to:

  • Reproduce the music
  • Perform the music in public
  • Communicate the music to the public
  • Arrange or transcribe the musical work
  • Translate the lyrics

Something is in the public domain when it is not protected by copyright or by other legal means.
This is generally when the copyright has expired or when the creator has released this with an open access or creative commons license.
When sheet music is in the public domain, you can freely:

  • Record the music
  • Remix the music
  • Perform the music in public
  • Copy and distribute the music


A good list of sources can be found on the music subject guide (digital scores and websites sections) 

For more information about using sheet music and frequently asked questions such as:

  • I bought a book of sheet music, can I photocopy it for other people?
  • Can I photocopy sheet music for myself?
  • Can I photocopy sheet music from a library?
  • I teach privately. Is it ok for me to photocopy sheet music for my students to use?
  • Can I lend sheet music to others?

See Music Rights Australia Fact Sheet: http://www.musicrights.com.au/fact-sheets/sheetmusic/

Sheet music is covered by the OneMusic licence but only for educational purposes not personal (e.g. teaching privately or using for non-UC students)

Need Help with Copyright?

Contact Us

Email: copyright@canterbury.ac.nz

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