Copyright

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 26 May 2004 1:10 pm

This question is for those of you who write and copyright songs. I have written 14 songs that I plan to place on a cd. I hate to pay the price to copyright each individual song. Therefore, is there some way to copyright a book of poems for example. This would not copyright the melody but would protect the words. Any
suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 26 May 2004 1:37 pm

Bill,
I've heard it said that you should package up your words/charts, etc, and mail them to yourself, then keep them unopened with the postmark/date on it, for future protection.
Whether or not that would hold up in court is anyone's guess. I would definitely be a budget-conscious way to do it though.
-John

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 26 May 2004 1:45 pm

Under US law, a song is copyrighted at the moment it is fixed in tangible form. Mailing that tangible form to yourself and not opening the package will give you a date stamp that, in theory, will hold up in court. I've never heard of anyone winning or losing a copyright suit based on that piece of mail, though. I suspect that the existence of the postmarked package is enough to keep most cases out of court.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 26 May 2004 2:20 pm

You can submit the entire CD to the US Copyright Office as a collection. I did that with cassette copies of my two "albums" (nowadays both are on CD). I believe it is form SR (sound recording) from the copyright office.

More info here:

http://www.copyright.gov/

------------------
Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 26 May 2004 2:32 pm

What John and Bob mentioned is correct. Between you and the universe, the song is copyrighted when you create it...proving that (if you ever have to) can be helped with the postmarked date and sealed package/letter containing lead sheets and/or lyrics and/or tapes or CD's. The actual U.S. Copyright is still the best single means to protect yourself (assuming someone else hasn't already copywriten it before you).

Bill's suggestion is also good (and economical) so long as you keep those songs in that particular collection (if you pull one song off of the CD and, for example, print up sheet music to sell...pay the extra for an individual copyright for that song).

No matter what you actually do or when you do it, affix copyright notice to your project (and any lead sheets, lyrics, etc...)with the year you created the work and who owns the copyright (i.e. your name).

Good luck and best of success,

Mike
Gatlin Brothers Music, Inc.[This message was edited by Miguel e Smith on 26 May 2004 at 03:35 PM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 May 2004 3:12 pm

I too have written and copyrighted songs..and also sent a copy to myself in a postmarked un-opened envelope.Done both.

The copyright collection thing works as a single UNIT..but if you were to release or sell one of your work separate you really need an individual identity for each written piece.

My current system is to send in the copyright fee when each song is completed..This prevents them from piling up and having to do them all at once.

I currently sell an 8 song CD at gigs..it has 5 self written copyrighted and 3 which I have the mechanical license for..Not a lot of money..$5 each..but I do sell 5 or 10 at each gig..and I have sold many singles on EBAY with written TAB..so I have not lost any money here..but at the same time I am not calling a cab to take me to the Bank everyday either..

Just do it and protect yourself..
good luck

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 May 2004 at 04:14 PM.]

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 27 May 2004 2:07 pm

Thanks for all your responses. This has been helpful. I doubt that any of my songs will turn out to be giant hits but some of you may remember a man from Mississippi who wrote a famous fiddle tune titled CARROLL COUNTY BLUES for which he never received a penny.