How To Copyright Your Music?

[rs14smith]

Hi everyone,

I have a few songs that I have came up with, and before i start to release them to the public, I just wanted to know what and how I need to go about getting my music copyright protected?

I saw a free method where you place some type of image on your site to show that the music is copyrighted, but I'm not sure if that's really all you need, as I also see some when searching Google that you have to pay for or send the music into some company or the government, can't remember.

Anyway, if their is a free method, PLEASE let me know, as my budget is very very tight 

Thanks for your time and for creating this helpful forum.

Robert

[Bob]

The poor person version is to mail yourself a copy of your own work.  Then you have the U.S. government's date stamp on the envelope.

Although, I've heard that doesn't always stand up in court.  In that case, you just have to shell out for a real copyright.

[rs14smith]

The poor person version is to mail yourself a copy of your own work.  Then you have the U.S. government's date stamp on the envelope.

What do you mean by "mail yourself a copy of your own work" ? Then you said have the "U.S. government's date stamp on the envelope" , but how do I get this "government's date stamp" in the first place? 

I like your poor version somewhat  , I just need more detail information on what it is I need to do, or if possible, those who have actually copyrighted their work before , please recommend me to a website or let me know exactly what you did to get your music copyrighted.

Thanks again, and thank you also Bob for your advice.

[daro]

Technically, your music is copyrighted as soon as it's "fixed in a tangible medium", i.e. written down or recorded. However, if you feel it's worthwhile to properly protect the copyright, it needs to be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office (I'm assuming you're American). Their website, https://www.copyright.gov gives you all the information you'll need.

Briefly, you can register any number of works together as a collection for only $45. Form PA covers the underlying musical content, and Form SR is used to register a sound recording. Under certain conditions, e.g. the authorship of all the material is the same, Form SR can be used to cover both the music and a recording of it for one price.

In the probably unlikely event that you ever need to file an infringement suit, then having a registration on file with the Copyright Office is the only real way to truly protect all your rights, including the ability to recover statutory damages and attorney's fees. In such cases, the "poor man's version" would be worth less than the postage it cost you to mail the material to yourself.

yd

[rs14smith]

Ok great.

So really I just need to follow these easy steps here right?: https://www.copyright.gov/register/sound.html

I'm guessing I need to fill out the SR form, but by looking at it I may need to call someone  to somewhat guild me through it.

Also, the recording can be on a CD or a Video of me playing the song, as I don't know how to write music out on sheet music yet, or at least write out how exactly it should be played    ?

Thanks again

[daro]

So really I just need to follow these easy steps here right?: https://www.copyright.gov/register/sound.html

That's basically it. There's a lot of good information in the FAQ's and relevant Circulars on the site that you might also want to check out.

For the deposit requirement, I would send them a plain old CD rather than a video so you don't confuse the issue of what exactly is being copyrighted - a visual performance is not the same as a simple sound recording.

yd

[Bob]

What do you mean by "mail yourself a copy of your own work" ? Then you said have the "U.S. government's date stamp on the envelope" , but how do I get this "government's date stamp" in the first place?

I like your poor version somewhat , I just need more detail information on what it is I need to do, or if possible, those who have actually copyrighted their work before , please recommend me to a website or let me know exactly what you did to get your music copyrighted.

Thanks again, and thank you also Bob for your advice.

I'm thinking printed music.  You just stick it in an evelope and mail it to yourself.  I suppose tape it up a lot so it will be obvious if it's been opened.  The post office puts a postmark on it.  The post office is the goverment.  The government has just put an official date on your sealed information.  If you needed to in the future, you can prove you wrote down that material before such-and-such a date and the government has backed up the date.

At least a little.  That was an old one, before the dawn of nice printers.  I suppose you could forget a rubber stamp fairly easily.


Another cheap idea is to just stick your own copyright symbol -- It's in Word under under Insert, then Symbol.  ©  I don't think it means much but it might be enough to scare someone away from stealing your stuff.

Bob™®
© 2007

[rs14smith]

Well after reading a lot of articles and talking with people, I think I'll just get a "real" copyright on my work and not have to worry about so much.

Also, by your name you have an "r" symbol, what does that stand for?

I know what the "c" is, just never seen the "r" though .

[Bob]

Registered
TM is trade marked
c with the circle for copyright


I don't completely understand what all that means though.

[anna_crusis]

It's not really such a good idea to register a copyright. If someone nicks your work off the internet, it's likely you'll never even know about it. And if they simply change a few chords or notes it can be difficult to prove conclusively that they are one and the same composition. Remember, you have to actually *sue* the infringer, and go to court (assuming you can even locate them). That costs a hell of a lot of money, and you may not win. If they are in another country, the complexity is increased tenfold.

Incidentally, forget about 'poor man's copyright'. Posting yourself a copy is a waste of time - you would be laughed out of court.

[Bob]

Yes, I've heard it's not the most solid legal thing.  I think it's an older idea.  Definitely pre-internet.

I would think a sealed envelop with a governement stamp on it would have some stability for proving the date though, that you at least stuck the stuff in the envelope and mailed in on such-and-such a date. 

Besides it's really cheap. 

Does anyone know what's involved and what it costs to copyright something officially?