Here are some key characteristics of proprietary music:
1. Ownership: Proprietary music is owned by a specific individual, company, or organization. The owner has the exclusive rights to control and use the music, including its reproduction, distribution, performance, and adaptation.
2. Copyright protection: Proprietary music is protected by copyright laws, which grant the owner the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display the music. Copyright protection typically lasts for a specified period, such as the life of the author plus 50 or 70 years, depending on the country and jurisdiction.
3. Licensing: In order to use proprietary music for commercial purposes or in public, a license must be obtained from the owner or rights holder. Licenses may specify the terms of use, including permissible uses, duration, geographic restrictions, and payment of licensing fees.
4. Restrictions on use: Proprietary music cannot be used, copied, or distributed without the permission of the owner. Unauthorized use of proprietary music may constitute copyright infringement and can result in legal consequences.
5. Control over distribution: The owner of proprietary music controls how and where the music is distributed. This allows the owner to maintain exclusivity, limit access, and manage the commercial exploitation of the music.
Proprietary music is commonly found in commercial settings such as movies, TV shows, video games, advertisements, and music streaming platforms. It can also include original songs, albums, and compositions created by musicians and artists who are signed to a record label or publisher.
In contrast to proprietary music, there is also non-proprietary or free music, which refers to music that is freely available and not subject to copyright restrictions. This can include music in the public domain, Creative Commons-licensed music, and royalty-free music.