Copyright has become such a common name, but I don't know exactly how it applies to me. A person has copyrights when their work is created and is known to be theirs. Copyrights, for lyrics for example, last for the life of the author plus 70 years. Having copyright means that you have the right to record those lyrics and distribute them in the way you want to. Currently, if there is any music made before 1922, it has become Public Domain. This means that we can use this in public settings without permission. But I highly doubt that people are going to want to go to rock out to "April Showers" by Al Jolson at homecoming. So I would just be careful not to use music as your own or use it unless you have permission. I know youtube is the biggest culprit of copyright law because people post music on their website and even though it's not for monetary gain, it's still considered copyright infringement.
One of the most famous cases on copyright infringement is a song I'm pretty sure we all know..."Happy Birthday to you." We all have probably sung it close to a million times by now to people for their birthdays, but it is actually under US copyright until the year 2030. Idealy you are allowed to use the song, but you have to pay a $700 royalty. It's interesting to know.
Resources:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#what
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-duration.html
http://www.pdinfo.com/copyrt.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_to_You
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