World IP Day fell on April 26th, with the theme this year celebrating Music!
Music is a universally celebrated form of creative expression, with innovation and technology at its core. Between producers and technicians, equipment and engineers, IP rights play a surprisingly pivotal role in how we interact with our favourite sounds.
Copyright
The most obvious way that IP interacts with music is via Copyright. It is also the right that is most commonly contested, as can be seen in several recent high-profile cases, such as with pop superstar Ed Sheeran, Pharrel Williams and rapper Flo Rida. Copyright is designed to protect original songs, written by authors recognised by copyright law, so that they may monetise their works for entertainment purposes. As with other forms of IP, they may sell and license these works in a variety of ways, such as through publishers or streaming platforms for example.
If you would like to read about copyright law in more detail, below are some links to other articles we have written on the subject:
Patents
Innovation has continuously revolutionized the way we consume and interact with music, from the vinyl record player and cassette tape, to the more modern invention of digital streaming services. All of these technologies have been covered by patents, allowing for such technological advancements to benefit both musicians and listeners across the world.
We have found some of the more unique musical inventions that you may not have heard of.
The EBow, or Electronic Bow (also known as the energy bow) was Greg Heet in 1969, introduced in 1976 and patented in 1978. R.E.M used this tool extensively in their song “E-Bow the Letter”, from their 10th studio album and it also featured in their music video.
An instrument that may be somewhat more familiar is the Theremin. Known as the first electronic instrument, the Theremin was patented in 1928 by inventor, engineer and physicist, Leon Theremin. The device works without physical contact from the performer, who moves their hands to manipulate the sound it makes. It was seen in season four of the US comedy show “The Big Bang Theory”, where actor Jim Parsons not only played the Theremin in an episode, but also learned to play the instrument for the role.
Then there is the Glass Harmonica, or Hydrocrystalphone. This instrument uses a series of glass bowls or goblets in various sizes to produce unique musical sounds. It was invented in 1761 by Benjamin Franklin. Yes, THAT Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. If you have ever seen the movie Miss Congeniality, there is a scene where Sandra Bullock makes music with wine glasses filled with water. The Glass Harmonica does not sound dissimilar to that!
Of course, if you are looking for an instrument still in use today, you could always head down under, with the Digeridoo. Associated with Indigenous Australian music, the digeridoo was developed at least 1000 years by the Aboriginal peoples of Northern Australia, though it can be found in use by a number of different cultures across the world today.
Trade Marks
Trade mark registration can be hugely important for musical artists and bands, to provide exclusivity and protection against unauthorised third party use. The most common type of trade marks in the music industry include the band or artist’s name, and logos used on album covers, promotional materials and merchandise.
Many trade marks in the music industry have stood the test of time, with the logos of bands from an era gone by, or that no longer even exist, being sported by fans that have found their work decades down the line. Such examples include: the original boy band, The Beatles (UK Trade Mark Nos. UK00001341242 and UK00001270413), the ill-fated Nirvana (UK Trade Mark No. UK00801470210) and the iconic Rolling Stones Hot Lips logo (UK Trade Mark No. UK00001051130).
Whilst the average listener has very little knowledge of the complexities playing in the background of their favourite songs, instruments and artists, for those in the know, there is a wealth of IP that has gone into creating the soundtrack of our lives.
- by Gemma Clark
WHERE INNOVATION THRIVES
We put you in control of your destiny by organising, optimising, & monetising your Intellectual Property.