Music Theory For Lawyers - And Legal Theory For Musicians

Music copyright infringement litigation is one of the most exciting areas of the law, filled with intriguing cases, big personalities, and plenty of music theory. While many attorneys find these cases interesting, few understand the music theory concepts on which they turn. 

We are experienced copyright lawyers and long-time musicians, and are excited to share our love of the intersection between copyright law and music theory. Our program will teach about major musical concepts that come up in music copyright cases, including chords, intervals, melody, grooves, lyrics, and sampling. 

For example, we will show how the allegedly similar "I-iii-IV-V" chord progression in Griffin v. Sheeran (the recent Let's Get It On/Thinking Out Loud case) is a common musical building block - and was not actually identical between the two songs. Similarly, we will break down the differences in the riffs at issue in Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin (Stairway To Heaven), decipher what happened in Williams v. Gaye (Blurred Lines), and discuss the theory behind a number of other major music cases. We'll include live musical demos of these concepts to specifically show how they apply in litigation.

The program will also answer common questions that musicians and non-copyright lawyers are likely to have about copyright law. What can musicians do to both protect their work and avoid litigation? Do you need a license to perform or record a cover song, or to use a sample? Finally, how will the advent of generative AI impact both musicians and copyright law?

If you are an attorney interested in music, or a musician interested in the law, then this course is for you. You will leave with a greater understanding of how copyright law and music interact so that you can follow (and maybe even play) along with the major cases.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze notable recent music copyright infringement cases, including key issues, arguments, and defenses that arise in such cases 
2. Instruct on and analyze music theory concepts that impacted results in major music infringement cases, including chords/harmony, melody, rhythm/grooves, lyrics, and sampling 
3. Answer common questions musicians are likely to have about music copyright law
4. Break down impact of generative AI on music and copyright law