How many people copywrite their music before posting online?

[Cheeky Monkey]

I never bother. By the way it's spelt copyright.

By the way, it's spelled "spelled".

 

[mickee]

if someone steals your song and makes millions of $$$ on it, and you want to bring them to court, is it still all the copyright you need?....

If that someone is from another country ??

 

[Sal4001]

Copyright Protection

No offense to ANYONE, but if you don't copyright your music before you post it you are a FOOL. Careers are made or broken by people stealing other peoples music. For the mere price of $30, you can copyright a whole collection of your songs. The "Poor Man's Copyright" does NOTHING when you're faced with a legal team from a major company. As the holder of hundreds of copyrights, and victor in 2 lawsuits, I'll GIVE you the 30 bucks if you don't have it to copyright your music. Don't be foolish enough to think no one would want to steal your music. Music is stolen and used for profit EVERYDAY. Be careful now, or sorry later!

 

[Johnathon]

I'm fairly new here and I'm sure this has been answered before... but how do you copywrite your music? Can you do just the lyrics?

j

 

[Dani Pace]

On the advice of an attorney, I simply take an original copy (lyrics sheet) to the county courthouse and have it notorized. This makes it a dated legal document which will stand in court. (only costs $2 per page) Later if I want to register it, the copyright office will backdate the registration to the date of it was notorized. I don't know if this works worldwide but it is written into the American legal system somehow.

 

[Gidge]

Later if I want to register it, the copyright office will backdate the registration to the date of it was notorized.

Are you sure of this?

 

[Dani Pace]

I'm not a lawyer but from what I was told by one (we all know lawyers never lie) the notorizing thing will stand up in court. He may have been out of his league about the backdating a copyright registration, I haven't tried that part to see.

 

[the Ozlee]

I've about give up on this subject. Legal rights and their limitations only become clear and focused the first time you try to use them. I don't believe that we all need to to rush down and sign up for evrything at the Library of Congress as soon as as the ink hits the paper. Common sense should play some role in the actions you take.
My thinking is that if I am in a fight I want every advantage I can get. But more important than that is knowing how to pick your battles and avoiding lost causes as much as possible.

Keep the faith....... Ozlee

 

[bradrourke]

This turned out to be a useful thread on another forum, on this topic:

http://www.guitaristworks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=299

It includes commentary from a nameless person ("The Raven") who actually works in the Copright Office. Also includes step-by-step info.

--Brad

 

[1specialspecies]

Yes to Copywrite

I copy write all my music from the recording program I use before dropping it on the net.

 

[JeffVyain]

Another point, I looked into recording someone else's song on a CD, they wanted to charge me 10 cents per copy of the CD.... so, 10,000 copies would have been $1,000. Plus, if it is played on radio/tv etc there are royalties. Not that any of my songs would get that far

if you're paying any more than 8.5 (9.1 cents starting 2006) cents a copy you're paying too much. they can't charge you any more than the statutory rate, though they can charge you less. and this is assuming you are selling the CDs. 10,000 sounds like a lot to me if you're not even sure you're going to get radio play.

 

[SnakeDog5050]

I was wondering if I got into any battle regarding who wrote a song... doesn't it mean a lot that I have the entire process of recording the song in like 35 progressively dated versions on my computer leading up to stolen version? If that's legit to use by law, I don't see how anyone could win a case against that. Does that work though? Just my thoughts...

 

[cephus]

Electronic Evidence

You'd think that if the cops send kiddie pr0n guys to jail based on evidentiary residue on their computer, that the same value would be placed on your intellectual property. If the system were fair, it would.

The copyright law is no different from most other laws in this country. It's stacked in favor of the big guy and his lawyers. There is no protection for a simple honest man against the treachery of business criminals who only use their creativity to take what others have produced.

As said, it seems to make sense that a sealed, postmarked copy of my music proves I came up with it first. However, you can send yourself an empty envelope, and use some kind of spy BS to open it, put a Huey Lewis song in it you "wrote in high school" and reseal it.

As far as electronic evidence, you can reset the system clock to 1960 and re-write "Please Please Me".

I really do think that it is a good idea to post to internet forums with your ideas rather than do nothing. At least you get an offsite dated copy.

Like this:

http://www.peaveyt60.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=672&PN=1

Boocephus
Squandering My Intellectual Property for your Entertainment
http://boocephus.blogspot.com

 

[Walter Abbott]

How may copyright BEFORE they expose .... ???

All of them with any sense!

None of them with "poor man's copyright" because they're worthless and won't stand up in any court of law.

It's a good idea to copyright as much material as possible at a time, but NEVER expose a song, lyric or score, or song idea prior to protecting it.

Walter Abbott

 

[mindwave_21]

Wow! Glad to see this thread is getting some use. Can't believe it's still alive...
Anyways, to answer my own question, Creative Commons offers a protection policy that's more in line with what I was originally asking in this question. It provides protection but encourages file-sharing, which is cool IMO. Anyways, "GAME ON".

 

[Emusic]

I register it with TONO as soon as we have the framework and the lyrics done. I might post some scetches online before that point. But not when I feel the frame is done. It really doesnt take much effort to send in the registration scheme.
But - as Garry once mentioned - posting it here is a good proof as well.

 

[HomeMadeHitShow]

I didn't read all the replies so this has probably been said.

The old "mail it to yourself" deal is not going to help you. Songs are yours as soon as written but the problem is how to prove it. The mail it deal has been proven inadequate.

I'm interested if the date a file is uploaded to a song site will be good enough if it ever came down to it.

Of course I would first have to write a good song

 

[guitarmanelb]

It Only Takes One Time To Lose Yor Music

Just wondering what the number was like. If you had one song instead of an album, would you still throw down the $30 for the C? Anybody actually get a song stolen from them?
I'm thinking of posting maybe 3 songs on purevolume and then garageband but I want to see what people say.

There Have Been So Many Songs Stolen Through The Years That Really You Shouldn't Have To Ask, It Should Be A No Brainer!

 

[logicaldove]

I have copyrighted stuff in the past - mostly collections - it was $20.00 back then - I see from another post that it has gone up to $35 so definitely register a collection.

I think of my music as my legacy (if I were luck enough). It would be nice to be remembered for some great song. Probably not going to happen, but a dream is a dream and it lasts until you die or give up.

As for the copyright and how I feel today, I don't think I care. I want recognision more than the money. I'm sure that if hell froze over and someone stold my lyrics and made them famous I could raise enough of a stink to make sure history records that I am the real author. Kind of like who really wrote Shakespear (I'd bet on the bard).

Anyway, it's for most of us, it's pointless in the end because no-one is going to steal our stuff. But to all - keep dreaming anyway.

Bill

 

[dcwave]

Poor man's copyright does not work in court against record companies with lots of lawyers. I know. I lost, they made $$$, I spent 10k, they had deep pockets, and something to keep in mind Bill/logicaldove - they will get the judgement sealed so that you cant make a stink without being in contempt and get jailed or worse. I get pissed everytime I hear the song.