1. How a song differs from a sound recording
2. Obtaining copyright protection
3. Registering copyrights with the United States Copyright Office
   1. benefits
   2. application requirements
   3. poor man's copyright as an alternative to formal registration
4. What is a copyright?
   1. exclusive rights in songs
   2. exclusive rights in sound recordings
5. Forms of copyright ownership
   1. joint works
   2. works made for hire
6. Duration of copyright
7. Use of copyright notice
8. Copyright Infringement
   1. determining if a work has been infringed
   2. the fair use exception/how much can be copied?

1. Protecting the name of a musical group
   1. trademarks and service marks
   2. choosing a protectible name
   3. trademark registration
   4. conducting a trademark search
   5. maintaining a trademark
   6. if someone else uses the group name
2. Taking care of business
   1. partnership law
   2. what happens if the group breaks up
   3. written agreements among group members
   4. forming a corporation or limited liability company

1. Roles of talent agent, personal manager
   and business manager
2. Selecting representatives
3. Common terms in agreements with talent
   agents, personal managers and business managers
4. The role of the music attorney
5. Union Membership

1. Major record labels versus independent record labels
2. Common terms in a recording contract
   1. exclusivity
   2. duration
   3. recording costs, advances and recoupment
   4. creative control
   5. delivery of masters
   6. royalty rates
   7. warranties, representations and indemnification
   8. special provisions for musical groups
3. Step-by-step calculation of record royalties

1. Music publishing defined
2. Songwriting license royalties
   1. mechanical licenses
      1. compulsory licenses
      2. right of publicity
      3. controlled composition clause
   2. performing rights licenses
      1. performing rights societies
   3. synchronization licenses
   4. print licenses
3. Common terms in a songwriter agreement
   1. single song agreement versus exclusive term agreement
   2. duration
   3. ownership of songs
   4. creative control
   5. delivery of songs
   6. royalties and advances
4. Songwriter as his/her own music publisher
   1. pros and cons
   2. affiliating with a performing rights society
   3. setting up and running your company
5. Co-publishing Agreements and Administration Agreements

Closing

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