Copyright - How to legally own your music
Copyright – The exclusive right of a
musician in his in artistic works for a prescribed number of years.
This step maybe the most important in
terms of protection. This is the best possible protection also from a
legal standpoint as a copyright clearly defines ownership 100%. a
properly filed copyright protects your music in many ways. This is
the lock and key for your music. Copyright law is what prevents
people, companies organizations from stealing your music! With your
music safely registered with the U.S. Copyright Office no one can
illegally copy or sell your music. Without a copyright your music can
be copied and sold, and there would be nothing you could do about it.
Fortunately the process itself is very simple. You start by going to
the website www.copyright.gov
and selecting the proper link to begin registering your music.
Fortunately there are only two forms that apply to music. I've listed
both forms below with a brief explanation. In most if not all cases
when it comes to music Form SR is used.
#1 - Form PA (Published
Arts) – Use this form for published and unpublished works of
performing arts. musical compositions that are recorded on disc or
cassette are works of performing arts and should be registered with
this form. To go directly to this form click on the link that
follows... http://www.copyright.gov/forms/formpa.pdf
#2 - Form SR (Sound
Recordings) – Use this form for published and unpublished sound
recordings. An important point to remember is that registration for
a sound recording alone is not the same as registering a musical work
that has been recorded. With this form you can register both the
sound recording and the musical composition. In most if not all cases
this is the form musicians would use to properly copyright their
music. To go directly to this form click on the link that follows...
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/formsr.pdf
The form(s) are very simple to
understand and fill out. Four pages total it includes great step by
step instructions. The application process for
copyright registration is also simple. To successfully submit your
song/album for copyright all you need are three things:
- A completed application form
- A nonrefundable filing fee
- A non-returnable deposit (A copy or copies of the work being registered)
Simply
mail all the above to the U.S. Copyright Office. Be patient as this
way to file takes time. In roughly 5-6 months you should receive your
certification. Another alternative to the conventional method above
is the option of online electronic registration for copyright.
Currently there is a page on the website created and dedicated to
electronic registration. Electronic submission does have benefits
such as being much faster and cheaper.
As
a bonus I strongly suggest to every musician or anyone in the music
industry download a copy of the publication “Copyright
Registration of Musical Compositions and Sound Recordings.”
I've placed a direct link below. The publication is also available on
the website. Be sure and get a copy. The information is invaluable
and really clears up a few myths about copyright as well. To get a
copy simply click on the link that
follows...http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ56a.pdf
***
For more info on Music Copyright see the 1976 Copyright Act “Section
106”
Independent Musicians Rule !
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