Copyright consists of two components:

• Economic rights: The right to control how the work is used and receive compensation
• Moral rights: The right to be credited and prevent derogatory use of the work

Copyright belongs to the original creators:

• Composer
• Lyricist
• Arranger (if the arrangement meets originality requirements)

Rights are determined differently depending on how the work was created:

• Combined work:
  • Music and lyrics are created separately (for example, the singer wrote the lyrics and the guitarist composed the music)
  • Can be performed separately (for example, instrumental version)
  • Each creator controls their portion independently
  • Protection period: 70 years after each creator’s death
• Joint work:
  • Created through genuine collaboration, parts cannot be separated
  • Registered under both creators’ names as a whole
  • All usage requires a joint decision
  • Protection period: 70 years after the last surviving creator’s death
• Fixed connection:
  • Parts created separately but intended for joint use
  • Can be separated unless agreed otherwise
  • Creators control their portions
  • Protection period: 70 years after the last surviving creator’s death

Copyright can be:

• Partially or fully transferred to another party (e.g., publisher)
• Inherited
• Managed by Teosto

Read more:
Music rights and royalties