Music in IP

Title: ‘Intellectual Property and Music: Harmonizing Creativity in Music and Business’

Author/Organization: World Intellectual Property Organization

Date Accessed: June 6, 2026

URL: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/music 

Source Type:

• Government

Intellectual Property and Music. (n.d.). WIPO. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://www.wipo.int/en/web/music

Summary:

This source discusses music’s relationship to copyright, publishing rights, royalties, trademarks, and patents through intellectual property (IP).

Key Terms:

• Music Value Chain

  • How musicians are compensated

• Music Royalties

  • Economic compensation for the use of the musician’s work or recording

• Music Publishing Rights

  • Rights for a song recording

  • Rights for musical work copies

  • Rights for music performances

  • Rights for use of music in movies and video games

  • Rights for use of music in TV programs and the radio

  • Rights for printing lyrics or music notes.

Music royalties

Who earns music royalties?

• Whoever owns the rights, for the use of the music

• Creators (songwriters, musicians, performers)

• Publishers, record labels

• Licensee (someone who is licensed)

Trademarks, in addition to copyrights, are important IP for protecting the rights of musicians and bands

Names, logos as trademarks

Memorabilia, merchandising                            

Patents are important to protect technology needed to access and play music, through inventions such as speakers, the internet, portable devices, record players, and microphones.