You mean I CAN copy it? (Understanding Music Copyright)

To be honest, copyright legislation is a rather negative topic! If something's 'in copyright', you can't copy it.  However, if something is very old, or if you have the right permissions, or if you're copying a tiny extract for study purposes, then you may be able to copy it, guilt-free.  

So, how do you find out what's allowed?

1. The IAML(UK and Ireland) website has a full page devoted to copyright, with lots of useful links, particularly relating to music.  (The International Association of Music Libraries is our professional association; a working group is currently drawing up a new helpful advice document, but you can certainly trust the links that are already on this website.)
2. Another UK library organisation, CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) has its own page about copyright in general.
3. Try the UK Copyright Service website.
4. Conservatoires and Universities often have their own web-pages on copyright legislation, sometimes on a Virtual Learning Network that only their own staff and students can access.  (We have such a page on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's VLN.)  We also have someone on the staff with particular responsibilities for providing copyright advice. This is quite common.
5. The British Academy for the Human and Social Sciences has a very extensive copyright advice page, though you might be put off by its length!  

The bottom line is - if in doubt, ask! Whether you ask your library staff or one of the agencies on the IAML list, someone will be happy to help you work out where you stand.

Is My Copying Legal?

CILIP, the UK librarians' professional organisation, has plenty of helpful info about copyright to help you keep things legal.  Visit their copyright pages HERE: Copying Guidance January 2015.

Can I Photocopy Printed Music?

The answer can be found in the Music Publishers Association Code of Fair Practice.  A revised edition was published in 2012 and you can read it HERE.

Other useful links:-

• Music Publishers Association homepage - MPA Online
• FAQ pages

Photocopying - What can I legally Copy?

Start by reading this blogpost from the Jerwood Library of the Performing Arts!

Here's how it begins:-

 

The whole post is here:

http://jerwoodlibrary.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/exciting-times-in-the-world-of-copyright/

Copyright, Photocopying, UK Music and Musicians

Colleagues in IAML (UK and Ireland) advise us that 'the Music Publishers’ Association has recently published a revised Code of Fair Practice, which is available on its website here: http://www.mpaonline.org.uk/content/code-fair-practice'

This summary comes from Claire Kidwell, the Chair of the IAML(UK and Ireland) Trade and Copyright Committee, with thanks:-

"The salient changes are as follows:

•The terms ‘copy’ and ‘copies’ have been clarified as meaning ‘any form of graphic reproduction of a printed music publication as well as the transcribing of music notation’ (see page 6)

•In consultation with the various music performance exam boards and the British & International Federation of Festivals, a permission has been added that enables copies to be made for adjudicators and performance examiners (provided the performer has legitimately obtained his/her copy) (see point 10, page 8)

•In consultation with the British Dyslexia Association, a permission has been added that enables a copy to be made by, or on behalf of, a person with dyslexia or any other type of reading impairment (provided the individual has legitimately obtained his/her copy) (see point 11, page 8)

These positive developments [...] have already been gratefully received by many librarians and library users."