Copyright question

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woody-34

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Hows it goin'

I would be interested in any help regarding copyrighting band related logos, original songs, and the like. I assume this is necessary before adding my band logo or mp3's to my website or creating stickers, t-shirts, ect.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks,

Dave
 
You can go directly to
http://www.copyright.gov/register/sound.html for form SR which lets you copyright Sounds Recordings

or

http://www.copyright.gov/register/performing.html to acquire form PA for performng arts compositions.

Also, the quick copyright method is to mail yourself a copy of your music on CD or cassette or your band logo printed up in full color. When you mail yourself your original artwork or music, you need to keep everything sealed and unopened. You only open it when instructed to do so by a lawyer if you ever have to sue anyone for copyright infringment, which I hope will never happen to anyone. The postmark from the post office is a copyright in itself. This method should be used if you are in a hurry, because your original artwork and music will not be filed at the library of congress. In my opinion, do both.
 
Not to dispute the U.S.Mail thing, but a lawyer once told me NOT to rely upon that method of copyright. If you're going to put it in the mail, put a check in there for $30 and mail it to the copyright office. Personally I've always been close enough to just take it in person. They give me a receipt, then mail the copyright certificate later.
 
bdbdbuck said:
Not to dispute the U.S.Mail thing, but a lawyer once told me NOT to rely upon that method of copyright. If you're going to put it in the mail, put a check in there for $30 and mail it to the copyright office. Personally I've always been close enough to just take it in person. They give me a receipt, then mail the copyright certificate later.
Click to expand...

yep
 
registration is not the basis for copyright ownership. It is merely proof. There are reasons such as the use of a compulsory mechanical license.

Your questions need to be more specific. But ask away.

I am an Attorney/Musician and represent professionals in the music business with respect to copyright issues.

For starters, a band logo is generally a trademark, not a copyright. A trademark requires registration however, before you can do so, you need to be able to establish use in commerce.

If you want, you can obtain further information contact jweinstein8@nyc.rr.com.

In the meantime, there are a number of great books in print to give you the basics.
 
You can copyright a single song for $30 or a set of songs for $30. The choice is yours. The stipulation on the set of songs is that at least one "owner" must be the same on all songs in the set. I think I got that right. Expect to wait about 6 to 8 months to get your registered copyright. Last I checked, I believe the logo tradmark will run you about $300. Best to go to the above government sites and read it for yourself.

Forget about the mailing thing. Spending $30 to do it right is a lot cheaper than hiring a lawyer to fight big label legal beagles. Hint: They can afford bigger lawyers than you can :D

DD
 
Everyboy keeps confusing registration with copyright. That is not so. The reason the mailing thing came about is becuase it was alleged to be proof of when you wrote the song. Therefore, mailing the tape to yourself and NOT opening it would allegedly be proof.

However, how can you logically expect that to work. Even if you did it, once there was a dispute, the package would have to be opened to prove that you wrote the song. When will you open it, in court before the jury. If so, how will your case survive long enought to get in front of a jury. It is not, I repeat, not that sending the tape to yourself does anything different thatn registration with respect to copyright ownership, however, as proof, which is what registration is for, the mailing method is not at all reliable and, frankly, would most likely not work to any effective degree.
 
If what you are interested in is protecting your band name and logo, what you want is a TRADEMARK, not a copyright.

Contact a trademark attorney.

DCM
 
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