[Copyright] The copyright plaintiff’s lawsuit for compensation against the arrangement of musical scores by music publishers was won.

Law firm Veat successfully defended a case where a classical pianist’s rights were infringed upon due to unauthorized alterations and distribution of sheet music editions by a music publishing company.

• Key Facts of the Case

In this case, the defendant music publishing company obtained a license to use musical works for sheet music production from the copyright holder’s trust business, but during the sheet music compilation process, the defendant altered the scores and adapted them to the level of the performer, then incorporated them into sheet music collections by grade.

According to the Copyright Act, the copyright holder has a right to maintain the identity of the work, including its content, form, and title, known as the ‘identity maintenance right’. This ‘identity maintenance right’ is an exclusive right, and it cannot be transferred or entrusted to a third party by agreement.

This case emphasized the importance of protecting musical works copyrights and the legitimate use of sheet music. It contributed to promoting social awareness of copyright and recognizing the illegality of unauthorized use and modification of works.  

• Veat Law Firm’s TIP Team

Veat Law Firm’s TIP Team, led by attorney Oh Seungjong, who previously served as the Chairman of the Korea Copyright Commission, consists of young and capable lawyers with a base in IT technology and engineering. This team provides legal services focusing on intellectual property and copyright issues and disputes related to IT, software, NFT (Non-Fungible Token), metaverse, games, and other future technologies and ICT, new industries.

Through Veat’s TIP team’s expertise, accumulated in the field of intellectual property and copyright, this victory is one of the results of their concentrated efforts to provide the most professional and effective legal services domestically for clients related to intellectual property and copyright issues and disputes.  

Law firm Veat is always committed to protecting the legitimate rights of creators. If you need any legal assistance related to copyright, please contact Law firm Veat anytime.  

Thank you.   Law firm Veat.