Guides
Music publishing in Mexico
How music publishing actually works in Mexico: who claims which rights, what the national copyright system does, and what it takes for a publisher to set up and collect.
Who claims which rights
Performance: SACM. Mechanicals: through SACM and direct licensing; EMMAC/local publishers handle much administration. Sync: direct.
Copyright registration in Mexico
INDAUTOR, the national copyright institute, runs a voluntary registry whose certificates are prima facie proof of ownership in Mexican courts — cheap insurance for significant works. Publishing contracts themselves are commonly registered with INDAUTOR too.
Setting up to claim publishing rights
Foreign publishers work through Mexican sub-publishers and SACM's reciprocal network; direct foreign membership is not the pattern. Mexico is also the customary base for Latin-American regional deals covering Spanish-language repertoire.
The societies
SACM — each linked page covers the society’s history and how registrations reach it.
Two free checks for your CWR file. Is the file correct? Every record, share and control total against the spec, each problem on its exact line. Do its writers match their registrations? Every writer cross-checked against public registration data, including works registered under another spelling or IPI. Nothing stored: check a file at cwrcheck.com.