Do you Need a License to Sing Christmas Songs in the Public Domain?
Christmas Songs and the Public Domain
While spreading holiday cheer with Christmas music sounds harmless, performing or playing songs in public can raise copyright issues. Unless a song is in the public domain, a license may be required for public performances, broadcasts, or use in commercial and professional settings.
What Counts as a Public Performance — A public performance includes music played or performed in places where people gather, as well as performances transmitted by radio, television, or the Internet. Music used in malls, public venues, training seminars, conventions, or business presentations typically requires a license, with limited exceptions for nonprofit use.
Christmas Songs in the Public Domain — Many well-known Christmas songs are old enough to be in the public domain and can be freely performed without permission. Classics such as “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” and “Joy to the World” can be sung or played publicly without securing a license.
Christmas Songs Still Protected by Copyright — Other popular holiday songs remain protected and require a license for public performance. Songs like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” and “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” cannot legally be performed publicly without authorization.
For more information, see our blog post Christmas Songs in the Public Domain: Do You Need a License to Sing?
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This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on specific legal matters under federal, state, or local laws, please consult with our IP Lawyers.
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