Compulsory License

Music Publshing Glossary

In the US, there is an exception to copyright law that allows anyone to use a songwriter’s work without the songwriter’s permission if the song has already been commercially released. This exception is called a compulsory license. It applies to physical reproductions of a song, such as LPs, CDs, or digital downloads, as well as streaming, cable television rebroadcast, use on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), or in jukeboxes.

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