Copyright Act

The Copyright Act of 1976 is a law in the United States that outlines the fundamental rights of copyright holders. It establishes the principle of “fair use” and introduces a new term for most new copyrights based on the date of the author’s death, instead of the previous system of fixed initial and renewal terms. The act protects musical works, including songs and accompanying lyrics, as well as orchestral works, librettos, and other musical compositions. Additionally, a separate copyright protects individual recordings of musical compositions.