IP and music agreements for artists and songwriters

Produced in partnership with John Groom of Baker McKenzie and Alex Willis of Baker McKenzie

Practice notes

IP and music agreements for artists and songwriters

Produced in partnership with John Groom of Baker McKenzie and Alex Willis of Baker McKenzie

Practice notes

This Practice Note considers intellectual property (IP) rights in the context of certain artist/songwriter-focused music agreements. In particular, the Practice Note outlines the various rights that subsist in a song and considers how these can be exploited. Issues relating to brand protection and image rights for musical artists are also considered.

IP and other rights relevant in the music industry

copyright subsisting in music

It is important to recognise that there are different types of copyright. Provided that the originality threshold is met, and the song has been recorded in material form:

•
copyright will subsist in the musical composition (or score) as a musical work
•
the lyrics of a song will be separately protected as a literary work
•
the recording of the song will attract separate copyright as a sound recording

In addition to the principal rights attaching to music, other copyrights may be relevant in

Access this content for free with a 7 day trial of ��Ӱ�� and benefit from:

Instant clarification on points of law
Smart search
Workflow tools
42 practice areas

Would you also like a quote? Yes please No thank you

I confirm I am a lawyer or work in a legal capacity, intend to use ��Ӱ�� products for business purposes and agree with the terms and conditions.^**

^**Trials are provided to all ��Ӱ�� content, excluding Practice Compliance, Practice Management and Risk and Compliance, subscription packages are tailored to your specific needs. To discuss trialling these ��Ӱ�� services please email customer service via our online form. Free trials are only available to individuals based in the UK, Ireland and selected UK overseas territories and Caribbean countries. We may terminate this trial at any time or decide not to give a trial, for any reason. Trial includes one question to LexisAsk during the length of the trial.

John Groom

Partner, Baker McKenzie

John is a media and technology lawyer in Baker McKenzie's IP and Technology team. He is ranked as a “rising star” for TMT, and recognised as a key lawyer for Media and Entertainment, in the UK by Legal 500. In 2020 John was elected to TechUK’s Data Analytics and AI Leadership Committee.

His practice encompasses a broad range of both contentious and non-contentious aspects of IP, Technology and Commercial law, with a particular focus on copyright, digital media, and new technologies. John writes regularly on these topics and his chapter (with Ben Allgrove) “Enforcement in a digital context: intermediary liability” was published in Tanya Aplin (Ed.) Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Digital Technologies in January 2020. John qualified in 2013 and is based in the London office, having spent 2018 in the San Francisco office. John is heavily involved in the firm’s tech-focused pro bono work, as well as its social mobility initiatives.

Alex Willis

Solicitor (Associate), Baker McKenzie

Alex is an Associate in the IPTech team in Baker McKenzie's London office. Alex joined the Firm in March 2018 as a trainee. Prior to turning to law, she completed a degree in Biological Sciences. During her training contract Alex gained experience in the Corporate Energy, Mining and Infrastructure; EU Competition and Trade; and Intellectual Property teams. She was also twice seconded to key clients of the firm, including to a global energy company where she gained experience in consumer law, commercial contracts, marketing and advertising and sponsorship agreements. Alex has experience in several industry sectors, on a range of contentious and non-contentious aspects of IP law, including trade marks, copyright and patents. She has worked on matters including trade mark and patent registrations, healthcare advisory and regulatory matters, anti-counterfeiting, and copyright and patent disputes.

Jurisdiction(s):

United Kingdom

Key definition:

Intellectual property definition

What does Intellectual property mean?

The trade secrets of an employer that are normally protected as registered trade marks, designs or copyright.

��Ӱ��