Need info quick guys

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Flash

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Hey there, I posted this earlier on the cakewalk forum. I really need some info fast on this. I have recorded several songs without the vocals. I invited this friend of mine over to put down some vocal trackes. The songs really sound good. He wants to copyrite the vocals seperatly. (sp) How can I protect my music. I gave him a copy of the CD. Do I need to send in for a copyrite of the music? His words wouldn't mean shit without the music. What should I do?
 
Cheap way - burn a CD of just your tracks without vocals. Burn another one of just his vox track(s), and a complete one. Lock all three in a safe somewhere. Supposedly, the minute you "Make a recording" of a song, for all intents and purposes it's copywrited.

Better way - Send for copywrite forms (or download them) from the US copywrite site (don't remember the URL, search google or AskJeeves for copywrite) and copywrite the song as "Words by wierdo, Music by CoolGuy" (guess whose side I'm On?) BTW, this (I think) will also require separate CD's or cassettes, and probably two separate copywrite applications.

Best way - I didn't catch what area you're from, but try to find an ENTERTAINMENT lawyer and ask specifically about separate copywrite. I've never heard of this being done, only the separate credit approach. (Doesn't mean it hasn't already beed done though, just that I am unaware of it.) This last way is gonna cost more, but if you are both concerned that much about separation, it would be the way to go. If you're not in New York or LA or Nashville, good luck looking in the Yellow Pages... Steve
 
So knightfly, your saying i should record just my music to a wav file and then record his vocals to a wav file and save them?
 
eh not the greatest answer. That is like the "poor" man's copyrite. That is when you mail a copy of your music to yourself and keep that as evidence. The postage date would show proof you had written it before the opposing party. But...this may not hold up in court. Safest way is to spend the money and actually copyrite the songs.
 
I don't understand. You guys each want seperate copywrites? I dont think it works that way. But you can have seperate credits for music and lyrics.

Get over yourselves and make some damn music. If you get the opportunity to sue each other over millions in royalties consider yourselves lucky.
 
ha ha nice reponse TexRoadkill. He has a very good point. If you do get the rare chance to be signed to a major label, the copyrites are usually taken care of by lawyers. get signed first ha ha.
 
"So knightfly, your saying i should record just my music to a wav file and then record his vocals to a wav file and save them?" -

You should have already done this anyway, just for backup. But TexRoadKill nailed it the best - especially considering the odds of actually getting anywhere with this. If your singer/lyricist doesn't want to be cool with this, maybe you should find another collaborator entirely... Steve
 
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