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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4809
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Hi gang, not posting much these days being busy with other stuff. But I check in once in a while. thought this would be a place to ask about finding a legal form for permission to record an original song. I have a couple of excellent songs written by friends and acquaintances over the years that I'd like to record. Do one of our resident genius legal beagles know where I'd find a release form for that? thank you very kindly. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | you can do it on line with the copyright office |
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Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1769
Location: When?? | Canadian laws most likely mirror those in the USA (per the Berne Convention) where you can "record" your own rendering of anything you'd like at any time, and play it back in your own, private space all you want to with no stringent legal binding. It's what you do with it OUTSIDE of that space that gets into expanded legal territory, especially if you plan to sell (or otherwise distribute) copies of the recordings or to place any of it into public performance. What do you plan on doing with your recordings??
Edited by Love O Fair 2017-04-25 10:30 AM
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | How much copywrite protection do I have if I record one of MY original songs and post it on Youtube, if I haven't actually done any actual legal paperwork to protect it? Trust me...I don't think I've written anything special that anyone would want to steal, but just curious? If I claim it's original, post it on January 1st 2018, if later someone was to copy it or "borrow" from it, would I have ANY protection? |
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Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1769
Location: When?? | Darkbar.. Copyright law is a lot more complex than most people would imagine it to be since it spans out into so many different areas of form and statutory timeline. I have been copyrighting items for about 25 years, and various laws have changed and adjusted many times over that period. There are also international protection laws that evolve as well.
Anyway, to basically answer your question--- the moment you create something (writings, music, artwork, etc.) and place it into a tangible form, it's legally yours. Protecting the rights to it, however, is another thing. What you are saying about posting it on YouTube for dating reference is called a "poor man's copyright", and isn't worth anything at all should it ever come to a legal push-and-shove. Neither is a postmarked envelope mailed to yourself, or anything else along those lines. The only thing that makes your claim to ownership certain is to officially register a copy of it with your country's copyright office. In the USA that is the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. I believe the US cost for essential application is currently $35 (which also covers the application on many/most international fronts). You can also register up to 20 songs per application as long as you register it as a collective piece. They also require a tangible copy to be sent. For music it can be either a recording or printed sheet music. Again, what I am posting here is a very, very basic answer. There can be a lot of variables depending on what type of work is being copyrighted and how/where/when it could possibly be used by others.. but if you feel the need for protection, the best thing to do is register it.
Edited by Love O Fair 2017-04-27 4:49 PM
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Thanks, LOF. I like the 20 songs idea. I might as well do all my stuff at one time for "one low price..." |
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Release for original song?
