First Name:
Kenneth
Last Name:
Kennedy
Major Department:
Vocal Performance
Thesis Director:
Victor Mansure
Date of Thesis:
May 2014
The intent of this paper is to address the current landscape of American music copyright law by examining the law's development through history, legislation, and relevant case law, and through interviews with contemporary professionals in the music industry. As such, the paper will be divided into two sections; the first containing a historical exploration and an analysis of current legislation and case law, and the second being comprised of two interview transcripts, and relevant analysis.
The primary goal of this research is to answer several important questions about the development of music copyright ownership through time and into the future. The field of music copyright has been and will be in a state of constant flux, because it is by nature a malleable area of the law. As social changes take place and technological progress is made, the requirements and ramifications of music copyright laws change.
Complete Thesis (PDF, 261KB)