Obtaining Rights To YOUR music?

[bassAddict05]

so I have about 50+ songs I made. And all of them are mine...but not legally? How do I make it so that they are mine, and I can sell them.....?

[dman_113]

Originally Posted by bassAddict05

so I have about 50+ songs I made. And all of them are mine...but not legally? How do I make it so that they are mine, and I can sell them.....?

I think further explanation is needed. Are you on any of the copyrights? Did you sell your rights in the first place? Were you a ghost writer?

[bassAddict05]

simply put, I made the songs, and now i want to sell them but it says i have to own the rights to them, how do i make it so they are copyright? for me.

[theshadow2001]

I heard that sending a copy with details to yourself in a registered letter is enough to prove that you had the music first. Since if you are the owner, no other copy will pre-date the registered letter unless it's stolen before you mail it.

So if there ever was a dispute and you needed to prove you are the original author you produce the registered letter with the CD in it (unopened of course)

[HomeBrewTJ]

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

I heard that sending a copy with details to yourself in a registered letter is enough to prove that you had the music first. Since if you are the owner, no other copy will pre-date the registered letter unless it's stolen before you mail it.

So if there ever was a dispute and you needed to prove you are the original author you produce the registered letter with the CD in it (unopened of course)

Nope, don't do that.

http://www.copyright.gov/

[ric1312]

check out the copyright laws online so you know what you really need.

Technically as soon as you write the song you own it. The reason to get the copyright documented is in case someone rips it off, you will then have proof you wrote it first. Or in the case of sending things to labels, so they don't rip you off. This is one reason a lot of big labels don't listen to unsolicited material. They don't want to be accused of ripping someones song off, just because a lot of music ends up sounding alike.

So, if someone heard your song and copyrighted it first you would be out of luck.

You don't have to send a copy to the library of congress and do a formal copyright. You can do a poor boy copyright.

Put your recordings in a sealed package. go to the post office and have them post date it on the seal and then mail it to yourself. Keep the package but do not open it, do not break the seal. If someone rips you off take that to court. It will stand up in court.

You don't need formal copyrights to sell your song. As soon as you write it you can sell it.

And lets be realistic what do you think the probability is that your songs are so good that someone is going to try and steal them from you?

I have to laugh because I've been a part of a few bands in the past that were very anal about getting formal copyrights before going into a recording studio or peforming or posting songs. No one is going to steal your song and make a million off of it. And if they simply want to play your song and act like it's their on a gig there is really nothing you can do about it.

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by ric1312

check out the copyright laws online so you know what you really need.

You don't have to send a copy to the library of congress and do a formal copyright. You can do a poor boy copyright.

Put your recordings in a sealed package. go to the post office and have them post date it on the seal and then mail it to yourself. Keep the package but do not open it, do not break the seal. If someone rips you off take that to court. It will stand up in court.

Sorry, but mailing copies of your songs to yourself will NOT stand up in court - this idea has been around a long time, but it simply isn't true. I mean, really - any hack detective novel can teach you how to get into a sealed envelope with no trace, and judges (and juries) read, too.

I'd strongly suggest that you follow your own advice - check out the copyright laws so you know what you really need.

[bassAddict05]

Originally Posted by ric1312

check out the copyright laws online so you know what you really need.

Technically as soon as you write the song you own it. The reason to get the copyright documented is in case someone rips it off, you will then have proof you wrote it first. Or in the case of sending things to labels, so they don't rip you off. This is one reason a lot of big labels don't listen to unsolicited material. They don't want to be accused of ripping someones song off, just because a lot of music ends up sounding alike.

So, if someone heard your song and copyrighted it first you would be out of luck.

You don't have to send a copy to the library of congress and do a formal copyright. You can do a poor boy copyright.

Put your recordings in a sealed package. go to the post office and have them post date it on the seal and then mail it to yourself. Keep the package but do not open it, do not break the seal. If someone rips you off take that to court. It will stand up in court.

You don't need formal copyrights to sell your song. As soon as you write it you can sell it.

And lets be realistic what do you think the probability is that your songs are so good that someone is going to try and steal them from you?

I have to laugh because I've been a part of a few bands in the past that were very anal about getting formal copyrights before going into a recording studio or peforming or posting songs. No one is going to steal your song and make a million off of it. And if they simply want to play your song and act like it's their on a gig there is really nothing you can do about it.

haha, yea man thats totally not what i was going for but i can see how you thought that. I just thought I had to copyright it cause thats why it mentioned in this site that lets you sell your music, but i guess its all good then. Thanks everyone. ....ps....buy my tracks.... .89 cents each ( i get .50) wooooo, hahaha...really though

http://www.myspace.com/citizenpolak

[ric1312]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

Sorry, but mailing copies of your songs to yourself will NOT stand up in court - this idea has been around a long time, but it simply isn't true. I mean, really - any hack detective novel can teach you how to get into a sealed envelope with no trace, and judges (and juries) read, too.

I'd strongly suggest that you follow your own advice - check out the copyright laws so you know what you really need.

Actually I got my information from the library of congress website. And I talked to several lawyers, it will stand up in court. Also, you don't even need it sealed and mailed to you as long as you have a way of proving the date of creation.

But, again. who cares anyway. Even if some bigger band ripped off a song and redid it you'd have to have the money to pay a lawyer to sue them, and it would still be hard to prove unless they were playing the song exactly the way you wrote it.

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by ric1312

Actually I got my information from the library of congress website. And I talked to several lawyers, it will stand up in court. Also, you don't even need it sealed and mailed to you as long as you have a way of proving the date of creation.

That's what I'm saying - you can't prove the date of creation by mailing something to yourself, because an envelope isn't tamperproof. Nevertheless, I would love to see your link to the LOC that says that it's a good idea; here's what the US Copyright Office Faq says at:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/fa...l.html#poorman

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.

And just for the fun of it, here's another page discussing why a 'poor man's copyright is not a great idea....

www.copyrightauthority.com/poor-mans-copyright/

But since I'm always up to learn new things, please ask your lawyer friends (you know, the ones who say that it'll stand up in court) for a single citation where that method was successfully used - or even one where it was unsuccessfully used.