Copyright?

[Gorty]

Just after some info required on how to Copyright a CD I plan on selling here and there, gigs, local music magazine, nothing big time! AT THIS STAGE!!!

[7string]

Originally Posted by Gorty

Just after some info required on how to Copyright a CD I plan on selling here and there, gigs, local music magazine, nothing big time! AT THIS STAGE!!!

Look around at http://www.loc.gov/

You should find everything you need to know right there.

[Mo-Kay]

Copyright is actually an automatic thing..Whenever you create something, the copyright is yours. Now to register that fact, you might want to go to a notary's office (bring your CD and/or score or whatever in an envelope and it'll get sealed and put somewhere safe)...or you can sign up with ASCAP or BMI and register your stuff there (not sure to how things work with ASCAP in particular..we have our own organisation over here)


Hope this helps a bit

Mo-Kay

[Gorty]

Thanx for the help, I just checked out the copyright web posted (thanx 7 string) everything thing I needed is there.

Mokay, Thanx for the info, just to correct myself I should have asked how to secure a copyright by registration.

This forum is great, I enjoy coming to work each day now that I have found it!!

[Mo-Kay]

no problem man...and welcome to the forum

[PhiloBeddoe]

FWIW, I once had a lawyer tell me that the best copyright protection is releasing and selling your music. Lawyers love paper trails, and if you can demonstrate that your song was available to the public on a certain date, then you're in a very good position if there's ever a problem.

[Boo Radley]

I wonder if this would apply to a posting to a website. Surely someone (i.e. an ISP provider) could dig up the date you posted it, thus making it available to the public.

[7string]

Despite all the little 'tricks' that are out there, the only TRUELY safe place is registering with the Library of Congress. Who's going to challenge them? Nobody.

[dwillis45]

I'm no lawyer but isn't the reality of copyright essentially an enforcement issue? There is, as Mo Kay points out, a natural right of copyright found in common law and you can create a paper trail (including registration). But when all is said and done, you need to identify a violator, secure legal assistance, issue some type of cease and desist order, and possibly bring the offending party to court. That's quite a tall order! Of course, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't copyright your material. Just be aware that it's far from an ironclad protection.