An arrangement is a modified work of music which is an original in its own right; the originality of the first composition can still be recognised but the arrangement is perceptible and the arranger’s signature is identifiable.

The rights of the creator of a work.

An unauthorised live recording of a concert.

The joint creator of a musical work.

The joint writer of the lyrics of a musical work.

The person who created a musical work, for example.

The term «copyright» literally means the right to copy or reproduce a work, but under US law the term applies to authors' rights in general.

A musical work that is deliberately reproduced and possibly reinterpreted. Cover versions do not go as far as arrangements.

Data transferred from the internet to the hard drive of a computer.

A work which may be freely used: i.e. no licence is required and no royalties are due. This applies in particular to works which are no longer protected by copyright because their author has been dead for over 70 years.

The Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte (the Society for performance and mechanical reproduction rights) is the German collective administration society for music copyrights.

The writer of the lyrics of a musical work.

Process for compressing audio files. Compressed files are easier and quicker to download. MP3 files are the basis for the distribution of music on the internet.

An online distribution model for individual titles or entire albums.

The rights of performers in their works, of sound and sound and video carrier producers in the reproduced recordings and of broadcasters in their broadcasts (also known as "related rights“).

A musician who performs a composition, for example. The performer may also be the author.

The rights of performers and interpreters. These rights are managed by the artists themselves or their record companies. Royalty claims for the performance and broadcasting of sound and sound and video carriers are administered by SWISSPERFORM, not by SUISA.

A person who performs a dramatic or musical work.

The published price to dealer. This is the purchase price paid by the record company’s dealers. In German, the PPD is called HAP (Händlerabgabepreis).

Natural or legal person holding the publishing rights in a work and who produces and distributes copies of the work at his own cost in fulfilment of his contractual obligations.

The rights of performers in their works, of sound and sound and video carrier producers in the reproduced recordings and of broadcasters in their broadcasts (also known as «neighbouring rights»).

A foreign rights’ management society which has signed a reciprocal representation agreement with SUISA by virtue of which it represents SUISA’s members on its territory.

A short excerpt of a music title which can be downloaded or played online.

A person commissioned by a sub-publisher to write new lyrics to a musical work.

Natural or legal person holding sub-contract rights for a specific territory on the basis of a sub-publishing agreement concluded with a foreign publisher.

The Swiss collective administration society for neighbouring rights.

The right to set an audiovisual work to music.