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The Composer Publisher Agreement is a crucial legal document used in the German music industry to establish and regulate the relationship between composers and music publishers. This agreement is specifically designed to comply with German law, particularly the Urheberrechtsgesetz (German Copyright Act), which provides strong protection for authors' rights. The document is essential when a composer wishes to assign publishing rights to a publisher while retaining their moral rights, as required under German law. It covers key aspects such as rights assignment, royalty structures, exploitation terms, and GEMA (collecting society) arrangements. The agreement is particularly important for new compositions or when establishing ongoing publishing relationships, and must carefully balance the commercial interests of the publisher with the legal protections afforded to composers under German law.

1. Parties: Identification of the composer and the music publisher, including full legal names, addresses, and any relevant registration numbers

2. Background: Context of the agreement, including the composer's profession and the publisher's business activities

3. Definitions: Key terms including 'Musical Works', 'Publishing Rights', 'Territory', 'Net Income', and other relevant industry-specific terminology

4. Grant of Rights: Specific rights granted by the composer to the publisher, including reproduction, distribution, public performance, and adaptation rights

5. Term and Territory: Duration of the agreement and geographical scope of the rights granted

6. Delivery and Acceptance: Requirements for submission of works and the publisher's acceptance process

7. Publishing Obligations: Publisher's duties regarding exploitation, promotion, and administration of the works

8. Composer's Warranties: Composer's guarantees regarding ownership, originality, and freedom from third-party claims

9. Payment Terms: Royalty rates, advances, accounting periods, and payment mechanisms

10. Collecting Society Rights: Provisions regarding GEMA membership and rights administration

11. Moral Rights: Protection of the composer's moral rights under German law

12. Termination: Conditions and procedures for ending the agreement

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction: Specification of German law application and jurisdiction for disputes