- The words “silent partner”
- Clients who claim there was an “implicit” or implied work-for-hire agreement
prior to the start of work when none existed - If the work is deemed not to be work-for-hire, watch out for language in the con-
tract that provides for an “all rights” transfer
Understanding Licensing the Rights Pie
Tied to copyright is the potentially lucrative area of music licensing. To “grant license”
simply means to give permission or an authorization. The licensor (you or your represen-
tative such as a label, music publishing company, manager, etc.) allow the licensee to use
your work under specific circumstances, such as specific outlet (film, tv commercial, etc.)
for a specified period of time, also called “term,” geographic location and many other
specifics for an agreed sum of money or royalty percentage.
That’s pretty much where the simplicity ends when it comes to music licensing. Li-
censing can become rather confusing, so be sure to consult your attorney for advice.
There are all sorts of opportunities to license your music and with them come a myr-
iad of usage rights, terms and definitions. Here are definitions of some of the typical
rights used in the music industry.
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- Synchronization Rights
These types of rights are used when licensing your music for use on a t.v. show,
movie, commercial ad, radio and similar mediums. They’re called synchronization rights
because your music is synchronized as it’s performed, or re-recorded, on the audio