Myths and Truths about Copyright in Music: What Every Creator Should Know

Introduction

Copyright in music is a field filled with confusions and myths that can be costly for composers, musicians, and producers. Understanding how it really works is key to protecting your work, securing your credits, and receiving the royalties that you deserve.
Today, we debunk the most common myths and tell you the truths you should be clear about.

Myth 1: If I have the idea for a song, it is already protected

Truth:
Copyright does not protect ideas.
It only protects works that are fixed in a physical or digital medium, meaning when the idea becomes something tangible: a recording (even if it's on your phone), a score, or the written lyrics.

💡 Practical tip

Always record your idea as soon as you have it, even if it's with the voice memo on your phone. That already creates a basic backup.

Myth 2: If I get paid to compose, I lose my rights and credits

Truth:
Even if you get paid to create, you remain the author of the work and have moral rights that cannot be waived or sold.

• The economic rights (those that allow you to earn money) can be assigned through a contract.

• The moral rights (like authorship credit) are inalienable and must always acknowledge you.

⚠️ Warning

If someone pays you to compose and does not want to give you credit, they are violating the law and your moral rights.

Myth 3: If I sign a "work for hire" contract, I automatically waive my rights

Truth:
The concept of "work for hire" comes from the Copyright system in Anglo countries (U.S. and the UK).
In Chile, Latin America, and Europe, the system is different:

• There is no automatic "work for hire" in music.

• The general rule is that rights belong to the creator, unless there is an express assignment of rights in writing.

💬 Legal tip

If you are going to use a "work for hire" contract, make sure to include a clear clause for the assignment of economic rights. If not, no matter what the contract says about "work for hire", the rights will remain yours.

💡 Final reflections

Understanding and correctly applying copyright is not just a legal matter: it is about protecting your art, your name, and your income.
Understanding the difference between moral and economic rights, knowing when formal assignments are needed, and how to register your works is key to building a solid and professional career.

Tools like Divisi help you automate this process, manage your credits, splits, and contracts without hassle. This way, you can focus on what really matters: creating and growing.