Is the law of copyright a sufficient means of protection for the music industry today?

Abstract

Music is the expression of individuality and culture. It is the cornerstone to a vast array of entertainment and the livelihood of a multitude of persons worldwide. The music industry must therefore be governed by a clear and universal form of legislation that balances out the personal and economic interests of all involved persons and protects them from abuse. This thesis is concerned with the protection that copyright offers to the individual players in the music industry and consequent protection offered to the music industry in general. It studies the historical development and the fundamental objectives of copyright law, specifies all the rights enjoyed by each individual major player and questions their sufficiency with regard to modern day threats of copyright infringements. The final objective is to see whether copyright law creates a realistic and adequate balance between the authors and performers, entrepreneurs and the public at large.