If you write the (vocal)melody of the song, are you a cowriter of the song?

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He does own 50% of the melody. I can`t say he doesn`t. I just don`t want him to put his name on something we wrote together, even though he came up with the idea. I think I did my share for this song. A song without melody and lyrics.... has no identity. I`m not talking about instrumental parts:)
 
But then the law wouldn`t allow him to use my melody in his timed chord progression,and take all the credit for it, right?
 
I know what you mean. Let`s say he would copyright his instrumental masterpiece, but he can`t just take the melody I came up with without giving me credit for it, right?
 
Well, i think you got your answer from just about everyone here. It's a colloboration, so both your names should be on it.

Having said all that, I think you shouldn't be wasting so much energy and losing sleep over it. What are you worried about? Do you think the song is going to go platinum and he's going to be rich while you starve to death? That's not going to happen. If it's about bragging rights, then just tell everyone that you wrote the song, too.
 
You never know. It isn`t a bad song. I`m more worried about his attitude. I could always try and write a better song, but when a bandmate acts like that, you have a problem. He does seem a bit of a bragger. Everybody agreed that I am a cowriter of the song, but I`m still looking for the laws regarding copyrighting. I haven`t found anything relevant yet:(
 
Are you the lead singer?

'Cause the lead singers' opinion doesn't matter.
 
Art is more than the simple sum of its parts. The smallest contribution can make the biggest difference. I don't like to work with people that want to stake out parts of a collaborative piece as their own. The band gets the credit because without the band, the solo songwriter is left with a bag of potential. He may as well be making stone soup.
 
I agree with you. We both write songs, but when he brought the idea in, and we both worked on it, I thought the band should take credit for it. I did as much as he did. At the moment, we are the band haha. The other members come and go, after they see how weird we are.:)
Supercreep said:
Art is more than the simple sum of its parts. The smallest contribution can make the biggest difference. I don't like to work with people that want to stake out parts of a collaborative piece as their own. The band gets the credit because without the band, the solo songwriter is left with a bag of potential. He may as well be making stone soup.
Click to expand...
 
yetanother said:
but I`m still looking for the laws regarding copyrighting. I haven`t found anything relevant yet:(
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Scour the copyright website from the links Bob F. and I gave you earlier. Ya gotta do a little of this yourself. Read the circulars and the FAQ's.
 
yetanother said:
...but I`m still looking for the laws regarding copyrighting. I haven`t found anything relevant yet:(
Click to expand...

If you are one of the creators of a song...you hold part of the copyright.
Period.

How much of the copyright is yours and how much is his only really matters when/if you get paid for the song, but without an up-front agreement beforehand for specific splits...you basically now each own 50%.

What exactly are you looking for...something to prove to him how much is yours...???
Just file the song with the Library of Congress/Copyright Office...let the lawyers and accountants deal with the $$$$...after you sell it and become famous. :D

Try this....
Google: Library of Congress - US Copyright Office
 
If you eat a piece of pie, were you one of the people who ate the pie??

Yeah, bad analogy...I know :D
 
guitaristic said:
If you eat a piece of pie, were you one of the people who ate the pie??

Yeah, bad analogy...I know :D
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that's putting it mildly :)

- I can tell this band has a great future - they get along so well already
 
I just found this! Collaborator/Songwriter Agreements
© 2001, 2006 Mark Halloran/E.R. Hearn
1
Collaborator/Songwriter Agreements
by Mark Halloran and Edward (Ned) R. Hearn
It`s all in there! Cheers mate!

Chili said:
Scour the copyright website from the links Bob F. and I gave you earlier. Ya gotta do a little of this yourself. Read the circulars and the FAQ's.
Click to expand...
 
I just found something^^
Thank you! Yeah, haha, I should wait until we become famous^^ Haha
miroslav said:
If you are one of the creators of a song...you hold part of the copyright.
Period.

How much of the copyright is yours and how much is his only really matters when/if you get paid for the song, but without an up-front agreement beforehand for specific splits...you basically now each own 50%.

What exactly are you looking for...something to prove to him how much is yours...???
Just file the song with the Library of Congress/Copyright Office...let the lawyers and accountants deal with the $$$$...after you sell it and become famous. :D

Try this....
Google: Library of Congress - US Copyright Office
Click to expand...
 
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