Obtaining a legal Music Copyright

[RageD]

Hello,

My band has a few songs we'd like to put up but don't want anyone to be able to steal them and claim them as their own. Call us paranoid, but that's the reason for this. So down to the question:

Where can I get a legal Music copyright for our music and how much on average would it cost? (Per song or can all our songs be copyrighted for one price?)


Thanks for the help!

-RageD

 

[The Equivocate]

I think in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act they talk about how when you post your work on the internet there's a certain degree of protection without a copyright. If you post the songs on Myspace or Facebook you should be okay because you have published your works online.

 

[RageD]

Alright thanks for the help! Anymore information would also be appreciated as MySpace is probably the way we will go to start

-RageD

 

[Peter]

Is there no songwriters union in your area? I know there is such an organization here in the UK but I cannot remember what it is called. The role of the organisation is to protect the copyright on songs and to gather royalties if any are due.

On a side note as long as you can prove when you wrote the song and of course it being dated before someone else did it you can prove your ownership on the song. I remember reading a while back with regards to UK law on copy writing songs. Here you can copyright more than 1 song as long as they are of course submitted at the same time and create a collection of work. The following may be of use to you@:-

http://www.copyright.gov/register/sound.html

 

[The Equivocate]

Some other trick I learned way back, I don't know how applicable it is to your exact problem, but if you send your work in an envelope to yourself through the US Postal Service and never open the envelope, the postmark basically acts as a proof of date, showing you wrote that piece of work. So maybe you could burn it onto a mini-cd and mail it to yourself if you're worried someone might try and claim they wrote it before you.

 

[RageD]

Thanks for your suggestions, I really appreciate it! I am thinking I will try a few of those precautions and on top of it date the compiled MP3 once it's made! Thanks, all help is indeed appreciated!

-RageD

 

[vrwrys]

Hello,

My band has a few songs we'd like to put up but don't want anyone to be able to steal them and claim them as their own. Call us paranoid, but that's the reason for this. So down to the question:

Where can I get a legal Music copyright for our music and how much on average would it cost? (Per song or can all our songs be copyrighted for one price?)


Thanks for the help!

-RageD

Protection is automatic. Copyright january 1 1978 " A work is created when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time".I believe mp3's and other forms of mediums are ways of protection also.

 

[Peter]

Protection is automatic. Copyright january 1 1978 " A work is created when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time".I believe mp3's and other forms of mediums are ways of protection also.

That is true but you do need to have proof of the date.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Plugging my own, but gomainer.com then look at "TM/Copyright" in the upper right hand corner.
To assert your rights you have to register the work - but you're granted copyright protection when it is published in a fixed form. Details at http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000102----000-.html
Basically, if you aren't sure - you can always pay legalzoom to do it for you.\
-Allan :gl:

 

[vrwrys]

To assert your rights you have to register the work - but you're granted copyright protection when it is published in a fixed form.

There are creative ways to protect your original recordings,but registration just makes it an open and shut case and in some instances not! Music is a tricky business and consulting with a lawyer would be smart!

 

[Damion]

Hello,

My band has a few songs we'd like to put up but don't want anyone to be able to steal them and claim them as their own. Call us paranoid, but that's the reason for this. So down to the question:

Where can I get a legal Music copyright for our music and how much on average would it cost? (Per song or can all our songs be copyrighted for one price?)


Thanks for the help!

-RageD

Two options for you.
Put yourself in contact with these people to find professional guidance.
Also take a look at this site to find out more and for professional guidance.

 

[slipondajimmy]

Just register the copyright . It will cost you $45 and will be on record. Dont bother with all the poor mans copyright methods. Spend the money and do it right. Put all the songs on one disc, follow the instructions and mail it out.

http://www.copyright.gov/docs/fees.html

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/