copyright b4 mp3?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yadi
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Yadi

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All of these "demos" being putup on the web at MP3 or even their own sites....does everyone copyright these? Whats to keep someone from ripping it off? Its been done before....with a lot less technology.

Just curious....before I start posting
 
Yadi . . .

A little information about copyright for you: The U.S. Copyright office considers anything that has been set upon a "tangible medium" copyrighted. This means that the second you put it down on paper, it's copyrighted. Now this does NOT meant that the copyright is REGISTERED.

I don't know about other places, but I know on homerecording.com that things work basically on an "honor system." Everyone here has a basic understand of copyright and also have an understanding of what kind of work it is to compose and record a song. For that reason, we don't steal from each other here.

Now if you're worried about people stealing your stuff, there are several routes that you can go.

1. DO IT FOR REAL. Get the forms and save up the money and register your songs at the U.S. Copyright Office. It's about $30 per song or about $30 for a collection of songs under one title. This is the only real foolproof way of doing it.

2. POOR MAN'S COPYRIGHT. You can send a copy of your songs to YOURSELF registered mail. What this does is prove that you were in possesion of the material on a certain date, so if any disputes come up after that date, you have a copy that has been sealed by the US Postal Service. A note here . . . DON'T OPEN THE PACKAGE THAT YOU SEND TO YOURSELF. It would defeat the purpose.

3. TECHIE COMPUTER NERD COPYRIGHT. ;) This would hold up in court in a pinch, but I wouldn't bank on it if I could do one of the other two options. Since you're posting on this website, I'll assume that you have a computer. Whenever you create a file on your computer, your system stamps it with a CREATION DATE. This can never be changed. Any time you open the file to make modifications, the modification date changes, but the CREATION DATE never changes. If you back up your files to zip disk, you could bring the disk in to a court hearing and show the judge the creation date of that file and it would precede the other person's claim to the work.

Hope I've given you some ok tips. :)

--Tax :D
 
good advice

Thanks Tax. Good advice.

I never actually knew that the proper way to register was so accesible.

I always knew about the "poor man" method but wasn't really sure if it was folklore or not. I'm now convinced it's legit.

As far as computers, well I think I know what I'm doing....and I guess thats pretty dangerous. Always looking for tips here..

Thanks for the advice!
 
Um, I wouldn't bank on option 3 either. There are ways the creation date can be modified...
 
I wish that people would stop trying to get around filing a real copyright registration. Come on folks, we're talking $30 here. How can you justify thousands of dollars on gear, $1000+ on manufacturing CDs and not want to spend $30 to register your copyright. Sure, you get instant protection upon creation, regardless of official registration, but for the love of God and your music, please make a legit registration (one that the will stand up in court.... BTW, there are certain damages and injunctive relief that you can only get if you actually registered a "real" copyright in the US Office of Copyrights).

It seems like we go about 2 or 3 months and someone comes in with this same question/issue of whether to officially register a copyright or try some other hairbrained way (no offense). Please, just fill out the form and send it in. You can even put multiple songs/works on the same form and just pay $30 once (if you file a compilation). It's insane to think that someone would pay all that money for recording gear and spend all that time to get a good mix/master and would then want to cheapen the very product that they set out to make (the MUSIC!).

Rev E
 
I couldn't agree with you more Rev. The money would not be an issue. In fact I wish my artistic well was so full that I could go broke via copyrighting. Actually in my original post I was more curious as to the flurry of MP3 postings and does the majority of these posters copyright their material?
 
Gidge, A Drummer ?????

Gidge said:
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ1.html
I dont even trust my own mother, much less a musician (or drummer, for that matter)....
Click to expand...

Gidge,

Just a side question. You don't consider a drummer a "musician"? I'm not a drummer, but I just thought that your comment was interesting and deserved comment. Perhaps we could start a new post on the subject.

Rev E
 
I've been trying to get a handle on this myself lately. One problem, if I understand this correctly, is that your song should (must??) be complete to copywrite it. If not, you'll need another copywrite for the altered version. So, if someone posts an mp3 for others to check out, and they take someones advice (maybe add backup vocals or a new verse), then the copywrite does not apply to this new version.

If this is the case, are you gonna copywrite every time you post a new version to get feedback on? That can add up. $$$$


Not to mention the deal where you can copywrite a whole CD. That makes me want to wait until I finish all the tunes in a project before I copywrite them. That could take a looooooooooong time.

I agree if it's done and complete then copywrite it. But what about works in progress?

????

Ziller
 
Rev, it was just a just, sorta......I guess since drums are considered musical instruments, drummers are technically musicians....however, ive seen many many many many drummers will very little, if any musical ability....drummers take note, if you are a drummer with musical abilities, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU....hey, why not start a "Is a drummer a musician?" post...and by the way, I do trust my mom.....
 
new thread?

I'm starting a post: Do you trust your Mother and is she a drummer?
 
Just to clarify

I want it to be clear that I was not urging Yadi to do any of the three options I mentioned. Of course the only way to TRULY protect material is to register it with the US Copyright office. It just seemed to me that he was looking for options, so I gave them. That's all.

--Tax :D
 
Registering with the copyright office is always the best idea. But as some of the earlier postings stated, the laws state (in some way) that when you commit your original material to a fixed medium it's copyrighted. Posting it on a site establishes a "trail" that it was created on or before a certain date and that you are the creator.


Let's face it - once you post stuff on the web, people all over the world have access to it, and may steal it (or elements of it). In most cases you'll never know about it...let's hope most people who check out your music will do the right thing!!!

http://www.mp3.com/normanvegan
 
I agree with Rev, do it for REAL, pay the $30 and forget any trouble in the future...

Anyway, I´ve found it´s very expensive registering songs for copyright in US. At Spain you would laugh at it´s price. :D

Just $3
 
Ziller, if somebody steals your "non-final" version they've still violated your copyright. It doesn't have to be an identical mix, the copyright violation would be unauthorized use of what clearly appears to be your work.

Rev E is right, of course, but given the low likelihood that my stuff is actually going to get stolen, it seems like a pain in the ass (and not insignificant expense) to fill out the forms and send in the 30 bucks every time I post a song. Practically speaking, it makes more sense for most people to take the small short-term risk and wait to copyright a full CD.

So go ahead, try to violate my copyright, make my day.
 
Well, it depends on what copyright you are going for....Form PA will let you copyright the song, basically the words and music....Form SR is for copyrighting the recording itself.....it doesnt have to be in final form to copyright it, I send in mine with just one guitar and vocal, very poorly recorded....
 
Gidge, that seems like a reasonable solution. Just sit with one mic and basic 2 track recorder, bang out all your songs with an acoustic, and send it in with form PA. You will have a copywrite on the words and music.

Later on, after gussying all of them up with other instuments and producing a CD, you can then send that in with form SR and copywrite those recordings.

So one 60 bucks for 10 or 15 songs.
 
Anyway, it depends of who steals your music... If Madonna does, it´s sure she´s protected, and you´ll lost your song. That´s the law.
 
HA!

I hear you gidge, I'd let Madonna play my song, if I could get to play her. :D

Had this dream once, I was frolicking around in my bed with Madonna, then she basically put my whole foot in her mouth... damn... That was hot man... Madonna giving my foot head...

Back to the topic...
Nothing I've posted here or elsewhere is registered. It's not the smartest move, but really, I don't get enough plays to scare me enough to spend the $30, when I do put out an album i will of course.

If somebody stole one of my songs and hit it big, at least we'd have something that dosen't suck on the radio. Ideally I think the whole 'intellectual property" thing is bullshit. kind of like the settlers "buying" land from the Indians, for a song. :D But... protect yourself. I should do the same

-jhe
 
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