Rights, royalties and the business · updated 2026-08-16
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Work whose copyright term has expired or never applied. In the U.S. this is a moving line, so check the term rules before you sample.

SOURCES AND CITATIONS
Free, primary references for public domain — standards bodies, manufacturers, government offices and university course material.
RELATED TERMS IN RIGHTS, ROYALTIES AND THE BUSINESS
- Sync licence
- Sample clearance
- Split sheet
- Work for hire
- Distributor vs label
- Advance and recoupment
- Termination rights
- Fair use
Back to the full music glossary or read our latest articles.