What is the maximum time a piece of music can be played without breaking copyright laws? Sorry I don't think my question was clear, if i am to use somebody elses music for a video what's the maximum duration can use it for without breaking copyright laws or needing to pay the author a fee.

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depends on the package you pay for, but usually 1 year till the copyright is updated/

Sorry -- there is no maximum time you can play someone else's copyrighted music without infringing their copyright. Not too long ago a US court decided a sample that was only *2 seconds long* violated copyright. So, basically, the answer here is get a license or take your chances.

Actually, more recent court decisions is a single sampe, consisting of a microsecond, is ever present a a computer, it is infringing. Harry Fox Agency (HFA.com) represents many contemporary composers with mechanical rights for incorporating music into media. Performance itself, including internet play, royalty is collected by ASCAP or BMI. That is for composers, as to recorings using a snipit from a commercial CD recording can result in a fine of $5000 for each copy. It is best to never use CDs for videos, either record your own version or stick with PD sources, such as PastMasters.net