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The fight between musicians, the recording industry and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks has brought music copyright laws into stark relief. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and bands like Metallica attacked P2P websites like Napster for distributing music without the permission of artists. The debate rests on the perception of fairness, with musicians interested in lost earnings and fans interested in finding affordable music. As the Internet becomes the primary source for fans to find new music, everyone involved in the music industry should learn about their rights under American copyright laws.

Musicians and conductors are given copyright protection automatically after their work has been made available for public consumption. A song produced for personal or noncommercial purposes can be protected for up to 70 years after the creator's death with an approved copyright application. Recording labels and musicians can protect work for hire or commercial music for up to 95 years by applying for copyrights. Writers, movie producers and web designers must request permission to reproduce music from copyright holders unless they use public domain music. Public domain music is anything created before 1923 that has not been protected in perpetuity by its owners and descendants.

The U.S. Copyright Office charges different rates to musicians who use paper and online applications. Filing a paper application costs $45 for each copyright application, with albums and music collections lumped into one application to reduce the costs of copyright registration. Recording labels and entertainment lawyers can save their clients money by paying $35 per electronic application.