"Copyright" protects the expression of ideas in many forms including books, plays, paintings, photographs, poems, music, lyrics, films, sound recordings and many others.

In our daily life, from the newspaper we pick up in the morning to the TV show we watch at night, nearly everything was created by someone. The fact that people can own and control the expression of their ideas means they have potential to earn a living by exploiting them should they wish to do so. It also encourages other people to create and share their talent.

Click here to find out what rules surround copyright.

Copyright and related rights give the people involved in creating music various rights over the copying, distribution, public performance and internet transmission of their music. This includes protection for artists, composers, publishers and producers.

The rules vary slightly from country to country and some countries allow limited copying and performance that is truly 'private'. However uploading music to the internet and other indiscriminate copying and dissemination of music files is an infringement of copyright if done without all the rights owners' permissions.

If this sort of copying and distribution continues without regard for those people whose ideas, talent, investment and skill led to the creation of music, they may be simply unable to continue to create – which will impact the diversity and choice in music we enjoy today.