Have you ever heard the classic George Harrison song, “My Sweet Lord”? It goes something like: “I really want to see you / Really want to be with you / Hallelujah / Hare Krishna. . . .” In 1976, United States District Court Judge Richard Owen, arguing that Harrison had heard the song’s melody in someone else’s song long before having written his own, ruled that Harrison was guilty of copyright infringement. Although not deliberate on Harrison’s part, his song too closely paralleled the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine,” a #1 hit in the US for five weeks during the summer of 1963.

The case raises an important question: How much can you draw on the work of others when you start your next project? In this issue’s installment, Dr. Art discusses the history and parameters of copyright, as well as its fair use in appropriation and parody.

Copyright Basics
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To incorporate or not to incorporate . . . that is the question facing many artists. From filmmakers to choreographers to graphic designers, the issue of incorporation appears daunting at first, but can be more straightforward than most artists think. For this installment, Ask Dr. Art discusses the benefits and drawbacks of incorporation from an artist’s perspective.

Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships
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