Some Guidance and Advice, Please

[Zaphod B]

Hey, all -

I've finally gotten a few songs done and want to get them up on a hosting site to share with others. So far I have three original compositions and one cover that are likely candidates. I'll probably put the songs on Soundclick.

I want to do this the right way with regard to licensing and copyrights. I have a couple of questions.

1. For my original compositions, do I have copyright coverage if I post a song on Soundclick before I've actually applied for copyright, if I do apply within a certain period?

2. For those of you who post originals on Soundclick and other similar sites - are you giving your stuff away, or licensing it for a fee? If for a fee, what kind of fee are you requesting?

3. For cover songs, I understand that I need to inform the publisher, obtain a license, and pay the publisher on a per download basis. If any of you can share lessons learned from having gone through this process yourself, I would surely appreciate it.

Thanks for any wisdom you can share!

 

[dualflip]

Hey, all -

I've finally gotten a few songs done and want to get them up on a hosting site to share with others. So far I have three original compositions and one cover that are likely candidates. I'll probably put the songs on Soundclick.

I want to do this the right way with regard to licensing and copyrights. I have a couple of questions.

1. For my original compositions, do I have copyright coverage if I post a song on Soundclick before I've actually applied for copyright, if I do apply within a certain period?

2. For those of you who post originals on Soundclick and other similar sites - are you giving your stuff away, or licensing it for a fee? If for a fee, what kind of fee are you requesting?

3. For cover songs, I understand that I need to inform the publisher, obtain a license, and pay the publisher on a per download basis. If any of you can share lessons learned from having gone through this process yourself, I would surely appreciate it.

Thanks for any wisdom you can share!

Ill say theres nothing really to worry about, but if you are afraid some one is going to rip them copyright them first. When you cover songs, well probably youll have to pay a fee to the author, but again i would not worry if the songs are not massively downloaded.

 

[BrentDomann]

I'm not a licensed attorney, but copyright law protects you the second it's recorded or published. Registering gives you evidence that it's yours, and it's pretty good evidence, but the law doesn't require it.


http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.pdf

 

[Zaphod B]

Thanks, Brent - very helpful link.

 

[Zaphod B]

Ill say theres nothing really to worry about, but if you are afraid some one is going to rip them copyright them first. When you cover songs, well probably youll have to pay a fee to the author, but again i would not worry if the songs are not massively downloaded.

Right, I've considered both those issues. I do want to stay on the right side of the copyright laws particularly with regard to cover music, as I would want my music treated the same.

I just need to dedicate some time to fill out some paperwork, I guess. Time has been in short supply!

 

[rayc]

You can select the level of protection/use of your material on soundclick - three options I think. I always allow download but not manipulation or covering.
Join & read the options.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

Yeah, soundclick has a variety of options ranging from Creative Commons "Sure you can download my song and re-sell it for fun and profit!" to "you're allowed to listen to my song exactly once before thugs with fedoras and baseball bats show up at your house."

Copyright law does protect you as soon as you publish and/or record your song. However, if it goes to court, you need strong evidence that you wrote the song. Precedent has shown that anything short of actually registering the copyright (or having more lawyers than the other guy) probably won't cut it.

 

[Zaphod B]

You can select the level of protection/use of your material on soundclick - three options I think. I always allow download but not manipulation or covering.
Join & read the options.

Right, I've joined and looked at the options. It's all new stuff to me so it's a little confusing. And I ain't getting any younger.

 

[Zaphod B]

Copyright law does protect you as soon as you publish and/or record your song. However, if it goes to court, you need strong evidence that you wrote the song. Precedent has shown that anything short of actually registering the copyright (or having more lawyers than the other guy) probably won't cut it.

That kinda what I thought.

Better to be safe than sorry, I think.

 

[dualflip]

That kinda what I thought.

Better to be safe than sorry, I think.

I think you are right you should copyright your songs and check all the paper work, although i must say that i believe that the artist/record industry will focus more on things like piracy, such as mp3's being downloaded on limewire, than on one only guy making covers of their songs.