Water No Get Enemy

The sound recording of "Water No Get Enemy" by Fela Kuti, released in 2010, falls squarely under the protections afforded by the Music Modernization Act (MMA). The MMA, specifically 17 U.S.C. § 1401, extends federal copyright protection to sound recordings fixed on or after February 15, 1972. Since this particular recording was fixed and released in 2010, it is well within this timeframe and thus receives full federal copyright protection. This means the exclusive rights of reproduction, distribution, public performance (via digital audio transmission), and preparation of derivative works are held by the copyright owner. This recording was part of the extensive Fela Kuti catalog, which has been meticulously managed and reissued by labels like Knitting Factory Records and Partisan Records in the 21st century. The 2010 release was likely a reissue or remastering, but the fixation date for *this specific recording* would be tied to its creation around the original 1975 release, or the 2010 mastering if it constitutes a new fixation. Regardless, even if the original fixation was 1975, it still falls after the 1972 threshold. The MMA's provisions ensure that these more recent recordings, and even older recordings fixed after 1972, are treated uniformly under federal law, simplifying licensing and enforcement. As a protected recording, any use requires permission from the sound recording copyright holder, which for Fela Kuti's estate and catalog, is typically managed through Kalakuta Sunrise Ltd., often in partnership with distribution and label entities like Partisan Records or Knitting Factory Records. This protection will last for 95 years from the date of its first publication, meaning it will remain under copyright until 2070 (or 2071 if the original 1975 recording is considered the fixation date for the underlying sound performance).