artwork on cd covers

djcrecks · Post by **djcrecks** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 12:45 am

hi can some one help me and tell me is art work from album covers cassette tape cover and so on under any copyright laws and if so how do i get more info on using the art work thanks

AndyJ · Post by **AndyJ** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:25 am

Yes the artwork and the typographical layout of an album cover (for a CD or vinyl) will be someone's copyright. It should give details somewhere in the credits in the small print. Your best bet is contact the record company which released the CD(s) and ask them about using the artwork. It is highly likely that they have either bought the copyright from the artist, or have an exclusive licence on it.
If you want to reproduce the cover for something like a fan site then I would expect the record company to be relatively happy to let you do this for free because it is extra publicity.