[Verse 1] Maya codes an app at midnight, pixels dancing on her screen Borrows melodies from Spotify, samples beats she's never seen But the lawyers knock at sunrise with their briefcases in hand "Every note and every image needs permission to expand" Copyright's invisible fortress guards the kingdom of creation What seems free might cost a fortune without proper documentation [Chorus] License first, distribute second, that's the golden rule to know Fair use is a narrow gateway, not a highway you can stroll Derivative means you borrowed, original means you own In the digital marketplace, respect seeds what you have sown Copyright scope, licensing hope Check the terms before you go [Verse 2] Creative Commons offers choices, six different flavors on the shelf Attribution means you credit, ShareAlike spreads the wealth itself Commercial use needs special clearance when the money starts to flow NonCommercial seems so simple till your app begins to grow Repository holds the artwork, metadata tells the tale One misread license ruins everything when lawsuits hit your trail [Chorus] License first, distribute second, that's the golden rule to know Fair use is a narrow gateway, not a highway you can stroll Derivative means you borrowed, original means you own In the digital marketplace, respect seeds what you have sown Copyright scope, licensing hope Check the terms before you go [Bridge] Transformative purpose matters when you're building something new Commentary, parody, research might let fair use carry you But four factors weigh the balance in the courtroom's careful scales Purpose, nature, amount, and market impact tells the legal tales [Verse 3] Open source doesn't mean chaos, GPL has teeth that bite Copyleft ensures the commons stays accessible and bright Proprietary licenses lock the vault with golden keys While permissive lets you modify with minimal unease Document every asset's lineage, track the copyright chain Digital forensics find the truth when ownership's not plain [Chorus] License first, distribute second, that's the golden rule to know Fair use is a narrow gateway, not a highway you can stroll Derivative means you borrowed, original means you own In the digital marketplace, respect seeds what you have sown Copyright scope, licensing hope Check the terms before you go [Outro] When in doubt, ask the lawyers When unsure, license clear Better safe than sued tomorrow Keep your conscience crystal clear
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