• From: Green Bay, WI
  • Registered: 2010-03-29
  • Posts: 49

Topic: Copyrighting Music

This is a topic that, to me, doesn't seem to be talked about very much.  Because of that fact, I don't really know anything about it.  I've probably been naive in the past, putting up music on the web before having official copyright of it.  But as my original material continues to grow, along with the number of people that hear it, I don't want to be taking chances anymore.

After trying to do a little research, I've heard a bit of everything...  Some claim you can send your material to yourself in the mail, and that counts. Some claim that sites (most of them free) can "register" your material online, and that counts.  Others claim that none of this would hold as a "true" copyright in court, and the only thing that will is real registration from a copyright office (which costs money).  Assuming that most of you all make original music, does anyone have experience with this?  Are there any free options that are actually "legit", or is the best option to just pay for the real thing?

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Copyrighting Music

Good questions. I've also heard the "mail it to yourself" theory. I don't know if you can make up any type of documentation and have it notarized and then send a Master copy of the material to yourself in the mail and don't open it..at least you'd have to postal date stamped on it. Maybe a leg to bargain on should there be any issues. I have a friend that went down to Nashville an recorded his music and has possibly master recordings in a safety deposit box.

I wouldn't trust any online claims of registering your music. From what I've heard the only really solid way to ensure your stuff remains yours is to actually pay and file the paperwork and have it copyrighted.

  • Registered: 2011-03-15
  • Posts: 120

Re: Copyrighting Music

Pretty simple: If you write a song, it always will be written by you and you have the copyrights to the song. You don't have to do anything, no registration, no pay etc. 
It all changes when you want to make money of your songs or if you have reason to believe someone else is making money of your songs, you should pay and file the songs. Judges over here have granted copyrights based on .wav file dates, but you don't want to go that way. The send it to yourself method is nuts and useless, you'd better send it to the tax office or a lawyer.

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  • From: New Castle, DE USA
  • Registered: 2011-01-03
  • Posts: 1,256

Re: Copyrighting Music

Copyright is a tricky business, especially in music (which can include both musical and lyrical components).  You might recall the famous lawsuit in which John Fogerty of CCR was sued for copyright infringement of a song he wrote himself! (He won the case, but had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to get his legal expenses recouped.) 

As I tell my writing students, if you are really serious about protecting your intellectual property, act like you are serious and do what the law requires to protect yourself.  A good place to start would be the Copyright FAQ at BMI:  http://www.bmi.com/faq/category/copyright

Terrance Shuman
New Castle, DE
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Copyrighting Music

I think copyrighting music is different than copying an invention, design, or idea.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Copyrighting Music

You better get a copyright if you send your music to any recording group.  I looked into this a few years ago on some song ideas I had and the cost of a copyright is not cheap.  From what I've seen its around $150.  But I was looking online so maybe its cheaper elsewhere.

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  • From: Green Bay, WI
  • Registered: 2010-03-29
  • Posts: 49

Re: Copyrighting Music

Thanks for the replies.  Yeah, from what I've seen, it looks like you can officially do it online through the Electronic Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/) for $65.  I could have sworn it was $35 when I checked a while ago--price must have went up, lol.  Figures...  I think I'll probably just put the money down in order to make it official and not have to worry about it.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Copyrighting Music

I could have found an expensive Copyrighting site for all I know.  Good Luck with it!

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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,374

Re: Copyrighting Music

TrueBlueDrew wrote:

Thanks for the replies.  Yeah, from what I've seen, it looks like you can officially do it online through the Electronic Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/) for $65.  I could have sworn it was $35 when I checked a while ago--price must have went up, lol.  Figures...  I think I'll probably just put the money down in order to make it official and not have to worry about it.

Their interface kind of stinks, but it's pretty easy.  Don't bother with any other site, just use copyright.gov and upload everything electronically.  Last time I did it it was $35, but that was a couple years ago. smile  Mailing stuff to yourself won't hold up in court, don't bother.

To save money you can copyright collections of songs (do 10 or 20 in one shot), but you might run into issues if you try to sell the rights to individual songs, but you've copyrighted that song as part of a group. Memory is fuzzy, I don't recall the details.

You may also have some protection if you've publicly performed your song - I don't remember the details of this, but it was discussed at a music biz conference I went to years ago.  Memory is still fuzzy.  I wouldn't count on this, I just thought I'd mention it because I do remember there was *something* about this aspect.  Maybe the BMI FAQ covers it.

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