Its contents primarily include sheet music in the public domain or otherwise freely available for printing and performing (such as via permission from the copyright holder).

It is a 501(c)(3), tax-deductible organization,[1] whose contents are published under a specific copyright license, and editing articles can be allowed only for registered contributors.

The CPDL stands with Musopen and the Wind Repertory Project as among the most prominent online music repertoire databases.

[11] Any modified Edition must be caused with the related date and any distributed copy must refer the copyright notice, whether gratis, or for a fee.

In that way, the same right of asking a fee may also be applied by the copyright holder, possibly with an exception for works listed in the U.S. public domain.