What Composers and Music Publishers Seek When They Request Permission to Set Texts to Music

This document was prepared in cooperation with ASCAP (The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers) and the AAP (Association of American Publishers) in order to facilitate the process of obtaining permission to use copyrighted material from literary works and set the material to music.

• Nonexclusive permission to create a musical setting of a text (or musical settings of the text).

• Timely response in order to fulfill deadline obligations.
• Permission for the use of text for the perpetuity of the copyright term of the text, without time restrictions. (No term limits)
• The right to print and publish the text in a musical setting, without restricting the number of copies to be printed.
• Permission to copyright the musical setting, and the right to assign that work to a music publisher or other entity.

• Permission to sell or rent copies of the published work throughout the world.

• Permission to permit performances of the work world wide in perpetuity of copyright.
• Permission to reprint the text with proper credit line in: program books for public performance free of charge; to reprint the text in the music itself; in liner notes; on sites on the Internet, specifically related to the musical setting; and in media now known or that may come into existence.
• Permission to make audio and audio visual recordings and to permit transmissions in media now known or that may come into existence.
• They seek permission to grant synch rights.