Nordisk Copyright Bureau
Copyright or wrong
Music and copyright
Who owns the copyright in music and lyrics?
Copyright law establishes that the person who writes a new piece of music automatically owns the copyright. Consequently, the copyright in music and lyrics is vested in the author = composer and songwriter (lyricist).
Copyright is an exclusive right which means that the author alone can decide if his music can be used, how it can be used and by whom it can be used. Any reproduction of the copyrighted work e.g. on CD or other media is subject to the author's prior permission.
Music in which copyright subsists is also known as protected music or copyright music.
Who else can own music rights?
The author may choose to assign or sell his economic rights (e.g. his recording and copying right) to any third party - most commonly to a music publisher. However, the author's moral rights cannot be assigned to others.
The rights can also be inherited by the author's heirs as any other personal property in that the copyright lasts until 70 years after the death of the author.
The authors and those who have acquired or inherited the rights are referred to as rights owners (or copyright owners).
NCB as the practical intermediary
Application for licence to use the rights owners' music e.g. on a CD, in a film or video production - as well as collection of royalties for such use - is handled by NCB.
When it comes to online music NCB issues a licence together with the local performing rights society in the Nordic/Baltic area. Please contact NCB for details - or read more on these pages: [Music on the Internet] and [Music as ringtones].
NCB's intermediary role makes it easy for those who write the music and those who want to use the music as all clearances are made at one point.
To cover NCB's administration costs we deduct a commission when we make payments to the rights owners. If there are no royalties to be paid to the rights owners, no commission is charged.
The music copyrights administered by NCB include the right to record, manufacture and distribute/sell music - these rights are technically termed "mechanical rights".
The Copyright Act
Here is a link to the Danish Copyright Act - in Danish.
The copyright acts of the Nordic/Baltic countries differ in some respects. So if you are a resident of Estonia, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway or Sweden, please contact your local NCB office to get updated information.
