Copyright - copying music FAQs

If the parts are not available to hire or buy individually then you may make copies but only up to a quarter of the original set. If you need more than that then you’ll need either the permission of the publisher (which may involve a fee) or to hire or buy another set.

This isn’t permitted by the MPA Code of Fair Practice and would not pass the golden rule test (are you doing it to avoid hire/purchase?) If you have hired 30 copies with the intention of people sharing in rehearsals then make copies so everyone can practice at home then you would potentially have 60 being used at any given time - so would be copying to avoid hire/purchase.

However, if extra parts are needed and are not available to buy or hire individually, you can copy up to an extra quarter set (see Orchestral and band parts above.)

• Making copies to prevent damage is not a permitted exception under the MPA Code of Fair Practice. However in some circumstances you can make copies if damage occurs (see In an emergency above). We know some groups to make copies to prevent damage – the key thing to do here is to apply the golden rule: are you doing it to avoid hire/purchase? If yes, you shouldn’t be doing it. 
• Example: you hire 60 parts and make a copy of each, so you have 120 in total:
  •  If 70 are being used at any given time you are copying to avoid purchasing of the extra 10 being used.
  • If you have the original 60 locked in your rehearsal venue to protect them, and the 60 copies are given out to members to take home and use, and a maximum of 60 are being used at any one time then you could argue you are not doing it to avoid hire/purchase. If you did decide this you should keep control of your use of originals and copies, mark copies as being for rehearsal only, use originals in performance and destroy copies after the final performance.