On October 19, 1976, President Ford signed the nation's first comprehensive revision of our copyright law since 1909. It became fully effective on January 1, 1978 and it is a law that will need to be understood by music educators both to improve their teaching and to protect themselves and their schools from incurring liability or being sued. This guide for music educators details the rights of copyright owners, limitations on these rights, duration of copyright, and penalties for infringement. (Editor/RK)