COPYRIGHT LAW: MUSIC
SECONDARY RESOURCES
NIMMER'S TREATISE ON COPYRIGHT LAW
Originally Published in 1963. Current through June 2016
This treatise contains a comprehensive overview of Copyright Law; therefore, it includes more than just copyright's influence on music. However, it will give the reader an overview of copyright in general, which may be helpful for those who are unfamiliar with this subject law. It is written by Melville Nimmer, Professor of Law at University of California, Los Angeles, and it is found on Lexis Advance.
LAW OF COPYRIGHT
Updated October 2016
This treatise is available on Westlaw and written by Professor Howard Abrams of University of Detroit School of Law. Similar to Nimmer's Treatise on Copyright, this treatise touches on various subjects effected by Copyright Law. However, it includes less sections and may be easier to use for gaining an overview of copyright. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with Copyright Law, check out this treatise.
MUSIC AND COPYRIGHT
Current through 2013
This treatise is a great resource for Music and Copyright, as the title suggests. It focuses solely on Copyright Law and its effect on Music. This treatise begins with a short overview of copyright, including the basic principles of Copyright Law. While this general overview may not be sufficient enough for understanding every aspect of Copyright Law, it is a great place to start. It is available on Lexis Advance and written by Ronald Rosen.
ASSOCIATE'S GUIDE TO THE PRACTICE OF COPYRIGHT LAW
Lexis Advance. Meaghan Kent & Joshua Kaufman (2015)
In addition to providing a background of copyright law, this guide provides detailed information about how to register copyrights, how to draft a take-down notice, and how to draft a demand letter. The Appendix includes examples of take-down notices and demand letters.
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO COPYRIGHT LAW IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Lexis Advance. David Mirchin (2002)
Volume 1 of this practice guide is a perfect place to begin research. Not only does it provide an overview of copyright law, but it also provides links to other helpful sources. Search this practice guide by either scrolling through the Table of Contents or by using the search toolbar at the top of the page.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - WEST'S LEGAL FORMS
Westlaw. Jeffrey Cohen (2016)
This guide is more general and includes multiple Intellectual Property topics. The copyright section provides visual examples of how to set up documents such as a Copyright Infringement Complaint. To narrow this guide to copyright only, go to the Table of Contents and use the "plus" signs next to the sections to expand them into subsections.
TRANSACTIONAL RESOURCES: DOCUMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Bloomberg Law
This guide provides a variety of documents that transactional attorneys may come across during their research of copyright law. It is difficult to determine what documents implicate copyright law as this source involves all Intellectual Property concepts. However, if you know the type of document you are looking for, this practice guide is a great resource for drafting documents.
MUSIC & COPYRIGHT IN AMERICA: TOWARD THE CELESTIAL JUKEBOX
Kevin Parks
This print-only resource discusses evolving music industry. This book can be found at Villanova's Law Library on the Second Floor. Published by the American Bar Association (2014).
MUSIC COPYRIGHT FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM
David J. Moser
This book provides a background about copyright law and how it effects, and will effect, the music industry. It is available at the Villanova Law Library on the Second Floor. Published by Artistpro (2001).
UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT OFFICE FAIR USE INDEX
This government source is a free resource for finding case law related to copyright. This source specifically looks at cases which involve Fair Use. While it does not include the opinion itself, it is a great starting point if Fair Use is implicated in the music related matter. You cannot use a word search to search for a specific topic, but you can narrow the results by jurisdiction and category (including music). Current through August 2016.
HEINONLINE
HeinOnline is a great source for looking into primary resources such as legislative history and secondary sources such as journal articles. This website offers advanced search options, making it easier and faster to find what you need. For example, by using the drop-down box at the top left to narrow the search to "Most-Cited Journals," you can search articles that specifically relate to copyright and music. While this is not a free resource, it is a good alternative to Lexis Advance and Westlaw.
GEORGETOWN LAW'S RESEARCH GUIDE
Georgetown Law's guide on copyright includes some additional sources to this guide. It provides a section on proposed legislation, which could help track what kind of issues will effect the future of copyright law. This research guide is easy to search, as the contents are placed on the far right side of the website. Each source contains a hyperlink.