If you haven't already, we recommend you go back and read our pages on Examples of Dispute Scenarios before you continue reading.
Disputes can arise over ownership, Also sometimes referred to as shares, the portion of ownership a rights holder has or the portion of income they are entitled to., The use of a protected musical work, performance, or sound recording without the permission of the rights holders or a license from a CMO in cases where such permission or license is required by copyright law. of a The use of a protected musical work, performance, or sound recording without the permission of the rights holders or a license from a CMO in cases where such permission or license is required by copyright law. or Typically, the recorded performance of a musical work protected as a phonogram under copyright law.or other rights such as The right to control a person's own representation on images, such as photographs or videos. and A person's rights in how they are represented..
You can also visit our Music Creators' Rights topic to learn more about rights.
Some options for resolving disputes are less formal and may be based on agreements between the Anyone who contributes to creating or performing a musical work, a live performance, or a sound recording., A person or company that has Intellectual Property Rights in a musical work, performance or sound recording, or third parties involved in the dispute themselves. Other options may require more formal proceedings.
The main methods of dispute resolution available to creators, other rights holders, and third parties are:
When the parties involved in a dispute agree on a solution without having to go to court.
Voluntary processes where parties involved in a dispute resolve it without going to court., such as A voluntary dispute resolution method that may include all parties involved in a dispute., When parties involved in a dispute agree to bring their dispute to a neutral third party, who will make a decision to resolve it. and A form of dispute resolution where parties submit a dispute concerning a particular technical issue to a neutral third party, called an expert, who will make a decision.
Court proceedings, which can be civil proceedings or criminal proceedings
Before you engage in any dispute resolution process, it's best to seek legal advice, which might be provided by your Collective Management Organization: An organization that acts collectively on behalf of the rights holders it represents and collects and pays remuneration to rights holders. or a lawyer. It's also recommended that you prepare any evidence to support your case, such as copies of agreements, communication about splits, or any other evidence relevant to the dispute in question.
Keep reading to learn more about different types of dispute resolution.
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