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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Those of you who have been down this path--how do I get started? I've got a "portfolio" ;) of things that I probably should do; they would be in printed form (lead sheet), not cd or tape.
Thanks for the help,
--Karen |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 112
Location: Ballston Lake, N.Y. | Go here:
http://www.copyright.gov/
You'll see a link to forms. If, as you say, your music is written down you'll want to use form PA. There's a link to the form with instructions. The problem with form PA is, I believe, you have to register each song individually, costing $45.00 per song.
Even if you recorded your songs to a simple cassette tape using voice and acoustic guitar you could save yourself a bit of cash by sending in a cassette with multiple songs and filing form SR as a "Works" thus copyrighting multiple songs for only $45.00.
Hope this was helpful. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Thank you, Zen, very much.
I don't have anything to record with right now, but I'll be sure to make a note of the web address.
Anything else I need to know, those of you who are more talented and seasoned at this than I?
--Karen |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Is there any legitimacy to "Poor Man's Copyrights"?
Where one seals the dated material in an envelope and mails it to themselves, to be opened only when needed? |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Karen,
Download a program called "Audacity" to your computer and with an inexpensive microphone you're good to go.
Here'a a link.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by cholloway:
Is there any legitimacy to "Poor Man's Copyrights"?
Where one seals the dated material in an envelope and mails it to themselves, to be opened only when needed? Maybe with a good lawyer. :D |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | GGG said: Maybe with a good lawyer. Define "good lawyer". (another oxymoron)??? |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| The "poor man's" copyright is quite legal, provided the date is listed on the envelope postmark and the envelope remains sealed until opened as proof in court. (no, I'm not a lawyer..) |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | As of 1989 the US is a member of The Berne Convention which holds, if memory serves (doubtful), that you own the copyright to your work the moment you create it and at least 50 years after your death.
However;
(note however that when the United States joined the Convention in 1988, they continued to make statutory damages and attorney's fees only available for registered works).
So all you have to do is prove you wrote the piece, by any means convenient. (The mail thing works, I've never used it. I file songs with groups like the Canadian Songwriters Association . I send songs to NSAI regularly and don't worry about it.)
So in your case, the work belongs to you but you would have a bit of a challenge suing anyone for damages. How much damage can they do with your song?
In the real world the rewards are too small and the costs too big for anyone sane in the music business (there is a flaw in my position, can you see it?) stealing a song that has a one in 27 million chance of being a hit. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| In the USA there's ASCAP and BMI...I hear they're expensive, probably not needed unless you have a recording or composition that receives a tremendous amount of airplay. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | A good lawyer is your lawyer, all the rest are those other types. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Artist rights organization like ASCAP or BMI are not all that much an advantage to the beginning writer unless you plan to place your song with someone or record it for sale yourself. (though many have great bonuses like seminars, training, and general info)
What do you intend to do with the songs karen? |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Actually, the thought of copywriting anything hadn't entered my mind until the band I play with suggested it--we do play out (very casual venues--county fairs, park commission things, nursing homes, that type of stuff--some we get paid for, some we don't.) Our most accomplished fiddler suggested it "'cause, really, your stuff's pretty good." Total of things I'd really care about if someone snitched them: 1 worship song that I wrote for Robbie that I'm really happy with, and "Fiddlin' Jack's Reel" that I wrote for Jack. There's a bunch of other stuff, but nothing that really involves my heart about it.
Should I just not worry about it, then??
--Karen |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I wouldn't. But that's me. Pretty much all I play when I play out is originals, that's why people get me (or not, as the case may be)
When was the last time you heard anyone anywhere say "those b*****ds stole my song!"? (people in recovery programs and friends of Jacko excepted.)
For the most part, as long as you can reasonably prove you had the complete song at an earlier date than anyone else, that song is yours.
Titles, song ideas, and arrangements are a completely different thing. They can't be copyrighted. You can write as many different songs as you like about Crazy Ex-Girlfriends or Silly Love Songs. All the writer owns is the lyric and melody, the part you whistle and the part you say. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Meanwhile, out the other side of my mouth...... I just remembered.
IF your song is registered and you play at a registered venue. (one that pays royalties to an artist rights group for the right to have live music played on the premises) You can record and report that your registered song was played and receive performance royalties for that performance.
It may well be only pennies, and the cheque will come a year later, but you can photocopy and frame that royalty check!
Your member organization (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) will have instructions on how to go about it. With absolutely no knowledge of the american groups other than ASCAP is member owned and I think may have the lowest operating expense overhead. (the part that comes off the top of your royalties.) |
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Need help...copywriting music