Sound Recording Copyright Online Registration Procedure In India
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Sound Recording Copyright

As mentioned already sound recording copyright is slightly different from music notations copyright. A sound recording - unlike the musical notes – which are noted down on a sheet, is a material object that either reproduces or mechanically plays music. It is imperative to mention here that motion pictures and audio-visual works do not fall in the category of sound recordings. To put things further in perspective, sound recording copyrights are held by record labels while the right over composition property is that of the publishing company. The publisher holds the right of the composition as he uses them in promotions and other platforms and generates revenues from that.

Once a recording of the original music performance is made on a tape recorder or any other digital medium, it is further edited and the copies are known as master copy. Therefore an individual or a company can buy the rights of the master copy. Since plagiarism in the music world is a common phenomenon, sound recording bear copyright notices inside out. A letter P inside a circle, then the year in which it was the recording was first published and then the name of the person or the company which has the right over the recording.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Once the copyright holder of the music sheet has sold the rights to a company or a producer, any other individual or company is entitled to have the compulsory license to make recordings of the composition. The move is aimed at preventing sheet owners from authorizing one company the full right over the music and thus reducing the chances of monopoly over the music industry.