Protecting your songs!?

  • Thread starter Thread starter gordholio
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gordholio

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I'd like to know what people do to protect their songs. I'm at the verge of getting a good singer (to take over from my lousy voice) and a new bass player. I'll also soon be sending out demos or just trying to drum up interest in my songs. In any case, I am always very worried about being ripped off - either by an evil musician or someone else who'll hear my stuff, like it (hopefully!) and steal it. I live in Canada. Is there any way of doing this on the cheap? I can't afford to spend hundreds of $$ per tune.

All input totally welcome! Thanks.

gordo
 
Type "copyright" in the search box.

Give one of your original recordings with lyrics and sheet music to a friend that is a lawyer. Just in case you need him someday, he has proof that it was yours from the get go.
 
You only have to spend $30 to do it right. Put all your stuff on one cassete tape or CD and file it under your name as a collection.
(The Joe Schmoe collection volume #1)

All the songs will be protected. If you need to weed one out later for sale or something you can do a seperate copyright on that song later.

Use the PA form. You can download it with directions from the house of congress.

Joe
 
Can you burn your CD's with MP3's so you can fit more on a CD to save money?
 
Scott,
I'm not sure the copyright office will take mp3's, I have to go up there tommorrow, I'll check. Damn, you must have a pile of em!

bd
 
gordholio said:
I'd like to know what people do to protect their songs. I'm at the verge of getting a good singer (to take over from my lousy voice) and a new bass player. I'll also soon be sending out demos or just trying to drum up interest in my songs. In any case, I am always very worried about being ripped off - either by an evil musician or someone else who'll hear my stuff, like it (hopefully!) and steal it. I live in Canada. Is there any way of doing this on the cheap? I can't afford to spend hundreds of $$ per tune.

All input totally welcome! Thanks.

gordo
Click to expand...


I live in the same paranoia that you do, my freind. I think you are very right about the possiblity of being ripped off. I think making a lot of BUZZ that associates *you* with the work will go a long way. if you look into priscilla presly's ... struggle(?) to regain the exlisive right to the use of Elvis' image, that will give you an idea of the principle I'm talking about.
 
Scott,
Send your mp3's, those cd's just get filed......it's not like they are going to play them or anything. Now, I didn't ask about how many songs you can submit and it's something I've been wondering about as it's come up a few times on this board.....I just forgot to ask. The most I've ever done at one time is 10. You might want to take a look at their website.....I did, but couldn't find anything, and I didn't look all that hard.



bd
 
bdbdbuck said:
Scott,
Send your mp3's, those cd's just get filed......it's not like they are going to play them or anything. Now, I didn't ask about how many songs you can submit and it's something I've been wondering about as it's come up a few times on this board.....I just forgot to ask. The most I've ever done at one time is 10. You might want to take a look at their website.....I did, but couldn't find anything, and I didn't look all that hard.



bd
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info! That is good news and as far as I know you can put as many as you want on a single media, I think. I will check on that before I send.. Thanks!
 
I believe Mp3s are fine as long as (should an issue arise) you can pull that baby back out of the envelope and show them that you had those songs long before they tried to steal your sh*t.

Has anybody ever heard of mailing a copy of your CD to yourself as a cheap form of copyright?

I'm not sure about other states, but here in Minnesota the copyright law is that once you have created something it AUTOMATICALLY is copyrighted to you...the reason you physically FILE it is so that you are able to prove that you did indeed create it. Thus, if you mail your CD to yourself in a sealed envelope and don't open it, apparently the postmark on the envelope will stand up in court as legal proof that you actually had the disc in your possession on said date.

But for most of us the 30 bones is probably worth the peace of mind i spose...just a thought
 
The copyright laws are Federal, individual states have nothing to do with it. Be safe, not sorry. $30 is a bargain.

I think we need a sticky for copyright FAQ's. This subject comes up about every week now.

bd
 
Copyrights are granted once the song is in its first tangible form. If you have a sealed envelope with the songs inside that was mailed to yourself that is great and credible proof.

Here's the downside. You can only recover lawyer fees and losses if you copyright it for the $30.

This is why it's worth it. If someone steals your song you can start the law process against him or her. After several postponements and technical bullshit of feet dragging, $6,000 later, you win!

Great, it cost you $6,000 for them to say, "OH YEA, you were right".

Any big company will drive you into financial oblivion long before you beat them if they really want that song.

Now, if you copyrighted it, you are entitled to be reimbursed for all your fees. It'll be the best $30 you ever spent.

Joe
 
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