Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia
Abstract
Copyright offers tight control over intellectual property while Creative Commons deliberately relaxes this control; this relaxed control provides an artist with an alternative marketing strategy as well as a secure electronic distribution method. Copyright has been a useful tool for controlling intellectual property since its inception in 1710, but new developments in distribution of copyrighted materials has provided new challenges for copyright law. Creative Commons offers an alternative approach to copyright that embraces, rather than confronts these challenges. Creative Commons is an alternative to copyright that is capable of representing all forms of art; sculpture, painting, literature, music printing and performances. This paper will discuss the difference between copyright and creative commons, and how they relate to music composition and performance.1 Whilst Copyright continues to offer steadfast protection to creators, Creative Commons\u27 unique marketing potential and relaxed approach to intellectual property control provides customisable licensing formats for creators. Though it does have limitations, Creative Commons enables the artist to safely control their work as well as adequately promote it, making the most of new electronic marketing and distribution strategies
