Tom Overthere
Member
Point taken but as you demonstrate throughout your remarks, not being concerned enough is worse...Only that you're overly concerned.
Maybe, but I think this observation relates directly (and unfortunately) to your comments below. See the * below.AFA people stealing and all that....odds are very, very, very small. There is just so much music out on the Internet, probably much of it not copyrighted...and you don't see hundreds/thousands of copyright cases every year.
HA! So true!It seems to only hit you after you become famous...and then it's usually someone claiming that you stole something!
THAT is the most important issue to me. The WHEN, so I'm glad to read your comment.The 5 months wait is pretty standard...but that's just to get the official hardcopy registration. The minute you submit, it's copyrighted.
I try not to delude myself (much). I don't write a lot of songs. I put a lot into each one and they probably are actually "worth stealing" so yeah, I want to have all my legal ducks in a row.If you are writing killer songs (I'm sure every songwriter is convinced they are )...then by all means do it.
Human nature. Sometimes I wonder how such a race survives...The biggest drawback it seems for most people...they don't want to spend the $35-$50 (not even sure what it is today electronically) per song on the fee...
...but ironically these same people are going to want to sue for millions if their music gets ripped off.
* I think the whole system (and perhaps the concept of artists' rights) has fallen apart in recent years. How many of these noobs you mention are infringing on copyrights of others, but are too ignorant and careless to even realize it? And because they're not making any real money from it there's no point in suing them.I think most of the recording/uploading newbs these days aren't even aware of this stuff...they just want to post their music, so they don't bother with copyright.
I think rampant theft of copyrighted material is taking place, but nobody has the money to sue and nobody's making enough to be sued. There's no incentive to pursue the matter so "copyright" is pretty much pointless...UNLESS the thief scores a big, money-making hit song.
The "industry" has devolved into an anything-goes morass, but a serious songwriter still has to register his/her songs for copyright, or forfeit any hope of remuneration. Man, I'm bummin' myself out here...