any experiences with mp3.com?
- Thread starter smirky
- Start date
bball jones
New member
Hey Smirk-
Good question. I think for a performing band, mp3.com could be a useful promotional tool. As for the struggling songwriter/artist, this is not the only way. There are sites I have found, thru here, which will promote your cd's on the net. Also what about mp3.com versus your own page?
I do not have my own page, so I cannot say, other than - one is free and the other costs.
It now says on mp3.com that all music is copywritten. I know of only one way to copyrite, and that is to mail your form and music to Washington.
Good question. I think for a performing band, mp3.com could be a useful promotional tool. As for the struggling songwriter/artist, this is not the only way. There are sites I have found, thru here, which will promote your cd's on the net. Also what about mp3.com versus your own page?
I do not have my own page, so I cannot say, other than - one is free and the other costs.
It now says on mp3.com that all music is copywritten. I know of only one way to copyrite, and that is to mail your form and music to Washington.
Smirk,
There are probably millions that surf mp3.com
Get your songs to "radio stations" on mp3.com and start your own "radio station". The deal usually is...hey host my songs and I will host yours...
Yes the copyright office has a site.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/
Like Mr BB Jones said. A good promotion for a working band.
Use all media that is free and link your website from there.
Bait with the freebies and they will come.
If you can't wait for the copyright office to drag the application though the perverbial government red tape.
To cover thy copyrights tail, mail your work to yourself.
That way its postmarked (make sure that its legible) to prove that the work is yours on that date. Include in the mailing,lyrics,score or tab,if you have made one, tape or cd, and an copy of your copyright application(s). Leave it sealed, just in case its pirated without your permission.
Always tag any work your put out "copyrights pending".
If you do a remake, give the credit to the person who wrote the song. If you put it on a cd for resale you will need their permission, and the lawyer dance will begin.
gidman
There are probably millions that surf mp3.com
Get your songs to "radio stations" on mp3.com and start your own "radio station". The deal usually is...hey host my songs and I will host yours...
Yes the copyright office has a site.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/
Like Mr BB Jones said. A good promotion for a working band.
Use all media that is free and link your website from there.
Bait with the freebies and they will come.
If you can't wait for the copyright office to drag the application though the perverbial government red tape.
To cover thy copyrights tail, mail your work to yourself.
That way its postmarked (make sure that its legible) to prove that the work is yours on that date. Include in the mailing,lyrics,score or tab,if you have made one, tape or cd, and an copy of your copyright application(s). Leave it sealed, just in case its pirated without your permission.
Always tag any work your put out "copyrights pending".
If you do a remake, give the credit to the person who wrote the song. If you put it on a cd for resale you will need their permission, and the lawyer dance will begin.
gidman
David Hooper
New member
I think mp3.com is one of the only sites of its kind worth looking into. It's the biggest, has the brand, and everybody who is looking for new music hits it. Plus, they're the only ones pushing the envelope right now...even if it's a losing battle.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com/
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com/
if I sign in as an artist member and load up a song: is this song "somehow" copyrighted or can it be stolen easily?
or can I somehow claim that I wrote the song (maybe through the date of upload?)
I would love to put some songs on mp3.com, but don't want to send them all to Washington before to get the copyright (besides: I'm from Europe)
anyway, thanks for your posts
smirky
or can I somehow claim that I wrote the song (maybe through the date of upload?)
I would love to put some songs on mp3.com, but don't want to send them all to Washington before to get the copyright (besides: I'm from Europe)
anyway, thanks for your posts
smirky
David Hooper
New member
Your song is protected. Don't worry, mp3.com won't steal it.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com/
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com/
European copyrights
Smirky,
I don't know European Copyright Laws. I believe that once copyrighted in Europe.Copies of that copyright should be sumitted to the U.S. office, If you put it on Mp3.com since they are based in the U. S. I would seek counsel in whatever country you are in. Seek a lawyer that specializes in patent or copyrights. I am not sure, but I believe Copyright laws are International.As long as the office of the country that you plan to realease your music is notified and copyrights applied for properly. There are a lot of people take that chances and don't do anything before they release it on mp3.com. Thats a risk some people take.You are somewhat protected by your upload date.Its documented. Talk to someone at MP3.com about it and see what they say.
gidman
Smirky,
I don't know European Copyright Laws. I believe that once copyrighted in Europe.Copies of that copyright should be sumitted to the U.S. office, If you put it on Mp3.com since they are based in the U. S. I would seek counsel in whatever country you are in. Seek a lawyer that specializes in patent or copyrights. I am not sure, but I believe Copyright laws are International.As long as the office of the country that you plan to realease your music is notified and copyrights applied for properly. There are a lot of people take that chances and don't do anything before they release it on mp3.com. Thats a risk some people take.You are somewhat protected by your upload date.Its documented. Talk to someone at MP3.com about it and see what they say.
gidman
European Copyright
Here Ya go Smirky,
http://www.eblida.org/ecup/
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/participer/guidelines/pub-copyright.htm
Check it out
gidman
Here Ya go Smirky,
http://www.eblida.org/ecup/
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/participer/guidelines/pub-copyright.htm
Check it out
gidman
David Hooper
New member
In the US, Copyright protection applies once the work is put in a tangible form. That means you're good as long as it's written down or recorded. It's not registered with the government, but you're still protected.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com
dobro
Well-known member
Dave, we've had this same discussion in this forum before, but if my memory serves me well, there seemed to be a consensus that posting on the internet didn't offer protection, or at least not as good as registering your copyright with the Library of Congress.
Are mp3s that you post to mp3.com somehow dated when they arrive in a way that is reliable, retrievable and which would stand up in court?
Are mp3s that you post to mp3.com somehow dated when they arrive in a way that is reliable, retrievable and which would stand up in court?
David Hooper
New member
Registering your work is definitely the best way to do it, but that is only a registration. Copyright begins when you put something in a tangible form.
By the time you get to mp3.com, you've already got the tangible form, so you're good.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com
By the time you get to mp3.com, you've already got the tangible form, so you're good.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com
dobro
Well-known member
Sure, I know that it's copyrighted as soon as it's in a tangible form, but *proving* you arrived at that tangible form before anybody else is the crux (gee I like that word) of the matter.
All posts to this board, for example, are dated. Would a lyric posted here, dated for all the world to see as long as this board and its posts continues to exist, constitute legal proof of authorship? Same question for mp3s to mp3.com.
All posts to this board, for example, are dated. Would a lyric posted here, dated for all the world to see as long as this board and its posts continues to exist, constitute legal proof of authorship? Same question for mp3s to mp3.com.
David Hooper
New member
Post on this board wouldn't really matter since the date could be faked. Same would go for mp3 I think.
Best protection as far as that goes is registration. Better safe than sorry.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com
Best protection as far as that goes is registration. Better safe than sorry.
dave @ kathode ray
http://www.indiebiz.com
bball jones
New member
I don't worry about mp3.com stealing it, but anybody who can download it - can try and steal it. Best defense to me, it seems, is a registered copyrite.
Has anybody visited the Library of Congress site lately?
Pretty neat.
http://www.loc.gov
Has anybody visited the Library of Congress site lately?
Pretty neat.
http://www.loc.gov