Copyright...?

[chadsxe]

I was just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction on how to get copyrights done on a full length that I wrote, recorded, and mixed myself.

 

[sparkyness]

Am assuming you're in the states: Copyright - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Link to the forms is on there too.....pretty simple stuff. Works the same in Australia and Europe. If the material is likely to generate some royalties, it's worthwhile becoming a member of a professional or government body which manages songwriting royalties too. You might get a nice cheque in mail sometime.

 

[Torniojaws]

You automatically get the copyright to your own material the moment you make it. You don't need to apply for it, or buy it anywhere, or register it anywhere. The thing what some companies etc do, is enforce your copyright. Eg. if some malicious guy somewhere else rips your own work off, and sells it as his/her own creation, the enforcer company will sue that person, so that you don't have to sue every copyright infringer yourself.

 

[Gnash]

The Library of Congresswill cost $45 for an entire body of work. Not each individual song. Send in your entire album. Once the letter is postmarked, you own your work. BMI.com: home for songwriters, composers, & publishersis free to be a BMI writer. $150 to start a BMI publishing company. You'll wanna do that right away. Royalty checks 4 times a year?!?

 

[chadsxe]

What about the art work associated with the album?

 

[kev]

send yourself a copy through the mail, it'll come complete with postage stamp. Never open it, but if something arises, there it is- all you need.

 

[Salvatore]

What about band names? What steps do you take to own a Band name? I'm sure there are hundreds of bands around with the same name.

 

[Gnash]

U.S. Copyright Office - Performing Art Works Registration

 

[HeadCrusher]

send yourself a copy through the mail, it'll come complete with postage stamp. Never open it, but if something arises, there it is- all you need.

+1 ^^
Did that too already.

 

[Lopes]

send yourself a copy through the mail, it'll come complete with postage stamp. Never open it, but if something arises, there it is- all you need.

You can do that if it makes you feel better, but it won't mean shit in a court of law.

 

[HeadCrusher]

If you send it to yourself via registered mail and never open it you can prove the date when you wrote (recorded) the music if you have to go to court.
Why do you think it won't mean anything?

 

[Aaron Smith]

If you send it to yourself via registered mail and never open it you can prove the date when you wrote (recorded) the music if you have to go to court.
Why do you think it won't mean anything?

I might add, it's not about a handwritten date inside the envelope or anything like that, but it's the fact that when you put the envelope in the mail it gets that dated, federal government stamp of ink on it. It will be all you need in a court of law.

 

[kev]

You can do that if it makes you feel better, but it won't mean shit in a court of law.

Then i suggest you get back to being a Dr of journalism

 

[Gnash]

$45 is a drop in the bucket for ownership of your soul. I believe it's absolutely neccessary, for appropriating royalties.