What is a Composition Copyright?

A composition copyright is the legal protection granted to the musical composition of a song. It covers the underlying musical elements of a piece, including the melody, harmony, structure, and lyrics, rather than the specific recorded performance.

This type of copyright protects the creative work of songwriters and composers. A composition copyright applies to the written or notated version of the music, such as sheet music or a demo recording that represents the song itself.

In music publishing, composition copyrights are typically owned by the songwriter, composer, or a music publisher. These rights allow the owner to control how the composition is reproduced, distributed, performed publicly, or adapted into other works such as covers, arrangements, or film and television placements.