This text is not licensed as our standard Creative Commons with derivative works allowed, please do not contribute to it.
§102 · Subject matter of copyright: In general
(a) Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. Works of authorship include the following categories:
(1) literary works;
(2) musical works, including any accompanying words;
(3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music;
(4) pantomimes and choreographic works;
(5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works;
(6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
(7) sound recordings; and
(8) architectural works.
(b) In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work.
The page is provided for reference, please do not edit the above contents.
You are invited to add also passages appropriate for music games from other legal codes if they have an official English language version (right now this is the language of publication at Games for Music — it's possible to change, if you would like to see it, please, discuss in the forums).
For analysis, see: Bruce E. Boyden, Games and Other Uncopyrightable Systems
If you think anything should be added to this subpage, please drop a hint or a link for future editors.