In the world of music, every song carries the hard work and emotions of its creators. However, when melody meets law, music copyright becomes a highly debated topic. Today, let's delve into the world of music copyright, starting with classic cases to explore its current status and future trends.

Classic Case: The "Thousand Evenings" Dispute Between Priscilla Chan and Anita Mui

When it comes to music copyright, one cannot avoid mentioning the "Thousand Evenings" dispute between Priscilla Chan and Anita Mui. In 1989, Priscilla Chan's "Thousand Farewells" and Anita Mui's "Song of the Setting Sun" were released one after another. Both songs were adapted from the Japanese singer Masahiko Kondo's "Song of the Sunset," sharing the same melody but each having its unique style and lyrics.

At that time, the renowned agent Emily Chan purchased the copyright of the song and licensed it to both Priscilla Chan and Anita Mui. Priscilla Chan's "Thousand Farewells" was released on July 25, while Anita Mui's "Song of the Setting Sun" came out six days later. The two songs competed fiercely in the market. In the end, "Thousand Farewells" achieved an overwhelming advantage with a sales volume of 350,000 copies, while "Song of the Setting Sun" sold nearly 200,000 copies.

However, at the 7th Annual Top Ten Gold Songs Awards in 1989, "Song of the Setting Sun" won the Golden Melody Award, which caused great dissatisfaction for Priscilla Chan and her team. This "Thousand Evenings" dispute not only affected the careers of the two singers but also triggered deep thinking about the ownership and management of music copyright.

Current Status of Music Copyright: Challenges and Changes

With the advent of the digital age, music copyright is facing unprecedented challenges. The rise of streaming platforms has made the dissemination of music more convenient, but it has also led to a high incidence of infringement. According to relevant data, in recent years, the number of infringement cases caused by the use of BGM (background music) in short videos has been on the rise.

In addition, the implementation of the new "Copyright Law" has also brought new changes to the protection of music copyright. For example, the new law has added the right of remuneration for the public performance and broadcasting of sound recordings by the copyright holders of sound recordings, further improving the rights system of music copyright.

Market Trends: Integration of Technology and Copyright

In the field of music copyright, the development of technology is bringing new opportunities. The emergence of AI-generated music has brought new possibilities for music creation, but it has also sparked debates over copyright ownership. For example, when AI-generated music is similar to existing works, how to determine copyright ownership has become an urgent problem to be solved.

On the other hand, the application of blockchain technology in copyright management is also gradually emerging. Through blockchain technology, the entire process of music copyright can be traced back, effectively preventing the occurrence of infringement.

Practical Suggestions: How Enterprises Can Deal with Music Copyright Challenges

For enterprises, the legal use of music is the key to avoiding infringement risks. First of all, when using music, it is essential to ensure that the corresponding authorization has been obtained, especially for background music used for commercial purposes. Secondly, enterprises can formulate reasonable copyright procurement strategies, cooperate with professional music copyright institutions, and obtain high-quality music resources. In addition, when facing copyright disputes, enterprises should actively seek legal solutions and strengthen internal copyright management to prevent infringement.

Conclusion

Music copyright concerns not only the rights of creators but also the development of the entire music industry. From the "Thousand Evenings" dispute between Priscilla Chan and Anita Mui to the copyright challenges in today's digital age, music copyright has always been a topic that requires our attention and discussion. It is hoped that the sharing of this article can provide you with some valuable references. If you have a deeper research need for music copyright, please leave a comment or contact our professional team for more information. Let us all work together to protect music copyright and let every song shine under the protection of the law.