Copyrighting your own music

[Gregadeth]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me an inexpensive legitimate way to go about copyrighting several songs? I'm unfamiliar with any kind of copyrighting process.

Please forgive me as I don't know if this is the right place to post this question, but it's worth an attempt. Thanks all!

[buscemi]

Are you in the U.S.? If so, simple answer: http://www.copyright.gov/

[C00kie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright# ... stic_Works

Another important minimum rule established by the Berne Convention is that copyright arises with the creation of a work and does not depend upon any formality such as a system of public registration (Article 5(2)). At the time some countries did require registration of copyright, and when Britain implemented the Berne Convention in the Copyright Act 1911 it had to abolish its system of registration at Stationers' Hall.[27]

But that's just theory. Proper procedures depend on the country you live in.

[lfm]

Yeah, 1911 convention will be well suited for 2010 and global internet.

There are a couple of things that make you want to register in some sort of way:

#1. Ability to claim that you really wrote this music and have the rights to it. Establish this is a unique piece of work and not somebody elses. If it's just the music or lyrics too etc.

If somebody just steals your music and makes a huge hit and you need to go to court to get your royalty this comes handy.

#2. Who to contact when somebody want to record it, sample from a recording of it, write new lyrics(in different languages aso) etc.

#3. Ability to get royalty when music is played in public
This could be radio, tv or internetbroadcasting like streaming, or bands playing it on gigs, records with this music is sold, downloads sold etc.

That's the way it works in sweden, but I think it might be different in other countries. You register after it's performed publicly at least once I think it is.

But a publishing company will take care of all that for a fee. So that's the natural way to go I think, sign with a publisher. And depending on what you do, songs, film music, game music or whatever you find a publisher that work in these fields.

And a publisher will also have in their interest that you get jobs in the fields you are working in. They will work a little bit like an agent.

[P.T.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright# ... stic_Works

Another important minimum rule established by the Berne Convention is that copyright arises with the creation of a work and does not depend upon any formality such as a system of public registration (Article 5(2)). At the time some countries did require registration of copyright, and when Britain implemented the Berne Convention in the Copyright Act 1911 it had to abolish its system of registration at Stationers' Hall.[27]

But that's just theory. Proper procedures depend on the country you live in.

People always bring this up, but in the real world, if you have to protect yourself against a specific case of theft of your work you actually have to be able to prove that you created the work.

[glokraw]

Save all your out-takes , rough drafts , giant raw studio sessions
and your cryptic daw project files
1000 CDs don't take up that much space

[P.T.]

Yes, judge, I see that he has 1000 cds of studio files. However, I propose that he was just trying to imitate my tune after the fact and to also create a false documentation trail.

[gambaytheunspoken]

This is the poor man's version of protecting your music. Place all pertinent materials, cds, lyrics, files, etc, in an envelope and send them via registered mail to yourself. Upon reception, do not open. Store the envelope in a safe place. A safetey deposit box is recommended.

Ciao!

[buscemi]

This is the poor man's version of protecting your music. Place all pertinent materials, cds, lyrics, files, etc, in an envelope and send them via registered mail to yourself. Upon reception, do not open. Store the envelope in a safe place. A safetey deposit box is recommended.

Ciao!

None of this should be considered "recommended" in the least. It has no precedent in any case and almost takes more effort than doing it properly. Why wouldn't you just use that postage to mail it to the proper office and have proper registration and protection? The safe deposit box will cost more and afford you next to no protection.

[glokraw]

Yes, judge, I see that he has 1000 cds of studio files. However, I propose that he was just trying to imitate my tune after the fact and to also create a false documentation trail.

Yo honna, here da 12 minute 8 seconds original, the song is 4 minute 2 seconds now,
heres the cuts, this is the pre-master volume, gain was boosted here and here, bass boosted from this point to the end. I have the list of plugins here used on the project, dude can't even spell them, let alone guess them. This fool dat stole my song can't show you ___t (nuttin')

(The per song fee is significant, collections can save you money, if your material is
good enough to protect )

[lfm]

None of this should be considered "recommended" in the least. It has no precedent in any case and almost takes more effort than doing it properly. Why wouldn't you just use that postage to mail it to the proper office and have proper registration and protection? The safe deposit box will cost more and afford you next to no protection.

I think that is a myth it will prove anything.

You can very well send yourself an empty envelope, not glued, just the slieve inside.

Then you can put whatever you want inside, at any time and then glue it.

Do that on a dozen songs, and steal all you want and later 'prove' it's your material.

Change timestamps on all files etc and put in envelope.

So it does not prove anything when you did that material.

Since there are courtcases of people making songs that seem to have stolen parts from other songs, your not safe from that either.

There are basically 11 notes to choose from in western music. The note sequence is bound to be used before, and possibly phrazing partly too.

It could very well be by accident that you come close to another work.

[glynbo]

There are basically 11 notes to choose from in western music.

Which one don't you use then?

It could very well be by accident that you come close to another work.

I use all 12, that makes it a lot more difficult to accidentally come close to another work.

Cheers,
Glyn

[lfm]

There are basically 11 notes to choose from in western music.

Which one don't you use then?

It could very well be by accident that you come close to another work.

I use all 12, that makes it a lot more difficult to accidentally come close to another work.

Cheers,
Glyn

Ah, yes, it was my amp that went to 11

[buscemi]

None of this should be considered "recommended" in the least. It has no precedent in any case and almost takes more effort than doing it properly. Why wouldn't you just use that postage to mail it to the proper office and have proper registration and protection? The safe deposit box will cost more and afford you next to no protection.

I think that is a myth it will prove anything.

You can very well send yourself an empty envelope, not glued, just the slieve inside.

Then you can put whatever you want inside, at any time and then glue it.

Do that on a dozen songs, and steal all you want and later 'prove' it's your material.

Change timestamps on all files etc and put in envelope.

So it does not prove anything when you did that material.

Since there are courtcases of people making songs that seem to have stolen parts from other songs, your not safe from that either.

There are basically 11 notes to choose from in western music. The note sequence is bound to be used before, and possibly phrazing partly too.

It could very well be by accident that you come close to another work.

And to be clear, since it seems you might think I was supporting that stupidity (to be frank), you are agreeing with me. Poor man's copyright, as it is called, is a fool's way to go. Plain and simple. Sending it to your self is a MYTH for sure and has never protected ANYONE in ANY case EVER. Just be more clear this time.

[emanual tehpirate]

cant you just put a rough demo on a public hosting website (like soundcloud or soundclick or whatever) and then be automatically covered because you created it. its cheaper than mailing yourself a letter and surely a third parties metadata would be by very nature unbaised.