The Basics of Copyright for Musicians
Presented in collaboration with MusicOntario
Date: March 16, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (ET)
Location: Zoom Webinar
Understanding copyright is essential to protecting your music and your career.
Join music lawyer Paul Sanderson for a practical legal session covering what independent artists need to know about safeguarding their songs and recordings.
Topics include:
• How copyright protection arises automatically
• Why registration still matters
• The difference between musical compositions and sound recordings
• Sampling, collaborations, and avoiding infringement
• Licensing basics and digital royalties
Whether you’re releasing your first single or managing a growing catalogue, this session will provide clear, actionable legal guidance
RSVP here
About the speaker
Paul Sanderson is a co-founder of ALAS, and has exclusively served clients in arts and entertainment for over 35 years. He has counseled music clients including major music publishers, large independent record companies and gold and platinum recording artists in all aspects of the music business, and has worked on domestic and international licensing and distribution contracts. Paul has also advised visual artists, art galleries and arts associations on contract and copyright matters, and has assisted in the establishment of and provided ongoing legal advice for copyright collectives in the visual art field. Additionally, Paul has two ground breaking legal texts to his credit: Musicians and the Law in Canada (published by Carswell Legal Publications), and Artists’ Contracts: Agreements for Visual and Media Artists (published by CARFAC Ontario).
