Copyrighting music

[keiser8339]

Has anyone on here ever copyrighted their music through Legal Zoom? A band mate and I are planning on copyrighted our music soon, and this seemed pretty liable. Any comments on LZ, or copyrighting in general will be appreciated. I have no idea about any of that sort of legal stuff. Thanks.

[hrodbert696]

Not a lawyer, but my understanding is that your work is automatically copyrighted simply because you wrote it. The real concern is not owning the copyright, but having the documentation to PROVE your copyright in case someone else uses it/lays claim to it. I don't know anything about LZ, but basically services like these just provide documentation. However, if you send your work to yourself registered mail (and don't open it, remember!), you have legal documentation that you were indeed the writer of that material at the date the mail is registered by. Unless somebody else has documentation showing themselves in possession of it at an earlier date, you have the evidence you would need in court to show that you are the owner of the copyright.

But I will let lawyers or other better-informed people than me correct this statement.

[keiser8339]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

Not a lawyer, but my understanding is that your work is automatically copyrighted simply because you wrote it. The real concern is not owning the copyright, but having the documentation to PROVE your copyright in case someone else uses it/lays claim to it. I don't know anything about LZ, but basically services like these just provide documentation. However, if you send your work to yourself registered mail (and don't open it, remember!), you have legal documentation that you were indeed the writer of that material at the date the mail is registered by. Unless somebody else has documentation showing themselves in possession of it at an earlier date, you have the evidence you would need in court to show that you are the owner of the copyright.


But I will let lawyers or other better-informed people than me correct this statement.

I've heard of mailing yourself songs, lyrics, whatever, as a form of some sort of legal documentation. The main issue we were wanting to copyright our music, is because our band made some demos, and a 'cd' and were a little sketchy about giving those out without any documentation that those songs were ours, and no one could try and steal our music. Either way, I'm sure one way or another we'll figure something out. Just wanted an opinion from someone. Thanks.

[Dirk Diggler]

Or you could do it yourself:
U.S. Copyright Office
Go figure.
Dirk

[Waffles and Scotch]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Or you could do it yourself:
U.S. Copyright Office
Go figure.
Dirk

This is what we do with all of our originals.

[Pilgrim]

And put a copyright notice and symbol on the physical product.

[oldrookie]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

And put a copyright notice and symbol on the physical product.

Not required since the U.S. joined the Berne Convention (international treaty governing copyright.) Registration brings some legal rights with it that you don't get otherwise, but all original creative works are copyrighted the moment the idea is reduced to tangible form.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

However, if you send your work to yourself registered mail (and don't open it, remember!), you have legal documentation that you were indeed the writer of that material at the date the mail is registered by. Unless somebody else has documentation showing themselves in possession of it at an earlier date, you have the evidence you would need in court to show that you are the owner of the copyright.

Here is what the Copyright Office says about that practice:

I’ve heard about a “poor man’s copyright.” What is it?
The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a “poor man’s copyright.” There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration.

From a practical perspective, the copyright registration process is easy and relatively inexpensive, so there is little reason to rely on this "poor man's copyright" rather than a proper registration.

[Rickett Customs]

+1. Don't forget to become a member of ASCAP or BMI, The Harry Fox Agency and If you're planning to write alot of songs, get a publishing company started so that you're covered all the way around.

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Or you could do it yourself:
U.S. Copyright Office
Go figure.
Dirk

[maxgrant]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

However, if you send your work to yourself registered mail (and don't open it, remember!), you have legal documentation that you were indeed the writer of that material at the date the mail is registered by.

For purposes of defending your copyright a registered letter to yourself is useless. It is too easy to steam open a package and re-seal it whenever you want. Copyright can now be registered with an upload. It's about $40 as I remember.

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by Febs

Here is what the Copyright Office says about that practice:



From a practical perspective, the copyright registration process is easy and relatively inexpensive, so there is little reason to rely on this "poor man's copyright" rather than a proper registration.

Originally Posted by maxgrant

For purposes of defending your copyright a registered letter to yourself is useless. It is too easy to steam open a package and re-seal it whenever you want. Copyright can now be registered with an upload. It's about $40 as I remember.

OK then, thanks for better-informed clarification.

[BuffaloBass]

For sure D-I-Y at the DOC wesbite. $25 a pop and you can register multiples, as in the whole CD.

[Coeball]

Does anyone know a trusted agency for registering copyright in the Uk?

[MatticusMania]

I've got a question, maybe someone knows how to answer...

Our band is preparing to submit our album for copyright, that much Ive figured out how to do.
My question is, when submitting an album for copyright, does one also include album artwork and lyrics, or just the sound recording?

[Ric5]

On your CDs say copyright 2012 by xxxx.

Do the same for lyrics.

Do the same on your web site.

Do the same on your videos.

This is basic CYA.

You don't need to do more unless you start making a lot of money.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Ric5

On your CDs say copyright 2012 by xxxx.

Do the same for lyrics.

Do the same on your web site.

Do the same on your videos.

This is basic CYA.

You don't need to do more unless you start making a lot of money.

Right, but like I asked above, can one submit an albums artwork for copyright along with the audio recordings and lyrics (that much we already know)?
I guess I should mention, we already have a deal for online distribution, and the albums artwork will be displayed online. Its original work, so we'd like to have it protected as well.

[Dirk Diggler]

Yes Matticus,
If you do it the right way the package/artwork is also copyrighted.
Dirk

[MatticusMania]

Thanks Dirk.

I think we managed to do it the right way. Got all the songs on the album, the album title, and the artwork all registered yesterday. Cant go wrong for $35.

[Dirk Diggler]

Yeah now enjoy the 8 month wait to get the official notification. LOL
Our Govt. sure works fast!
Dirk

[NoiseNinja]

In Denmark we have an organisation called Koda, they take care of copyright, as well as they make sure that you get money for playing live or being played in the radio/internet. When it comes to medias (like cd, lp e.t.c) the organisation that takes care of copyright on releases is called Ncb.
I know for sure that something similar exist in most of the world, but I'm not sure what the organisations names are.