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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Hey guys,
I was wondering if anyone here can give me advice on the best route for getting copyrights for my original music. I've written music/lyrics to many songs, and have been encouraged to seek copyrights for the original works, before putting them on a CD for friends and family.
Not that I think they are that great, but I guess it would be fun to make some Norseman Originals available.
I've done a search on the internet, and it would appear there are hundreds of options to do this.
Any advice on the right way of going about this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Norse(Legend in his own mind)man1 |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Norsey,
I don't have the answer but I would love to hear it when it bubbles up! I've seen ads in magazines but who do you trust anymore? There's gotta be a straight path.
M(waitin on a CL12)Woody |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | Norseman,
Go to www.copyright.gov (website of the U.S. Copyright Office) and follow the instructions for copyrighting a sound recording. You'll need to fill out some forms and then send them a CD (a demo or pre-master is fine as long as its got the same songs as your finished CD is going to have). It is a lot cheaper to register the CD as a whole rather than each song individually. It is a bit confusing finding which form you need. Here is a great link to help you wade through the red tape.
http://www.guitar9.com/jbblack4.html
Hope this helps.
Franklin |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Thanks Franklin!
Just out of curiosity, have you ever done this?
I will check it out. Hey Woody, If you have the stomach for it, I'll keep you in mind. I already promised to send Trboy a recording, but have been slow in getting it done.
Norse(I didn't forget Trboy, I WILL record, and get it to you)man1 |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Cool! Thanks! |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Here's something interesting to add.
Form SR is a great way to go. But in reading recent material recieved from BMI. The form SR only copywrites the recorded work(Read Sound Recording of said work) and not the songs in and of itself. They suggest the best way is to have a leadsheet done of the work and register it that way. I guess that could run into some Bucks if the whole CD project is all original.But isn't peace of mind and protection of the original song or songs worth it in the long run? Just something to think about. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | Yeah, I did copyright a CD in the last few months.
Franklin |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | In the old days the cheapest & simplest way to protect a song if you did not have a publishing deal was to make a tape and/or a written transcription and send them to yourself by some form of recorded or signed-for postal service. Then when you get the package store it, postmarked & unopened. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | If it's just you and your material then technically, as soon as you record it, you can claim that it is Copyrighted. However, if other people are involved, then getting the copyright package from the gov, or even hiring an industry attorney is appropriate.
The reason for the difference in methods are simple. If it is only you, and somewhere down the road someone else claims it is theirs, then it's pretty much woh recorded it first, and that's pretty cut'n dry. If there is a dispute with multiple people, then it's more of a logistics issue of who gets what amount of what for what. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | That's Right Paul. It's known in composer circles as "The Poorman's Copyright" Glad you mentioned it. It's supposed to be a way to prove the date frame when a song or songs were written. It's supposed to stand up in court too if you have to bring suit against somebody for stealing your material. Since The Postmaked Package was delivered via the US Post Office-a Government agency, if you keep it unopened-it proves when the songs were written.
Great idea for struggling, starving, songwriters.
:D |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 76
Location: Kent, England | Another method is to seal the CD and dated manuscripts in an envelope or package and deposit in a safe custody facility like a bank. This deposit is recorded so that if any subsequent claim arises this can also be used as proof, certainly in England. It can be a little expensive though but at least it should be looked after securely.
I approve of the registered mail method which can also be combined with the above to provide more secure storage.
Cheers
Terry |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Terry,
Good Idea with The Safety Deposit Box. You are right, perhaps it's a little on the expensive side. But it should work. Thanks for sharing it. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | IMHO, the best vault to store it in is the one at the U.S. Copyright Office.
Franklin |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Franklin,
Just for a ballpark idea, what was the end cost of copyrighting your entire CD? I am looking at about 8-10 originals I'd like to protect.
I have not had a chance to go to the link you provided me yesterday (thanks again!) but will be doing so this afternoon if schedule permits.
Norse(a little slow)man1 |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | I copyrighted the whole CD at once for about $35.00.
Franklin |
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Experience with copywriting material requested
