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Songwriting
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OP
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I'm curious what methods people have used, and what they found to be simple, straight forward, etc...
Thanks!
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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In the USA AFAIK there is only one way...through the copyright office. Cheaper to register a set rather than one at a time. Your songs are automatically copyrighted when you write them but registering them is how you prove ownership.
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You only need to register your songs with the copyright.gov site when you are ready to sue (ha, ha). Since a collection of songs is as cheap as one song, then that is a good option.
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Songwriting
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Yep. You write them you own them. Post it somewhere that date stamps it,e.g. SoundCloud and don't worry unless it's lawsuit time at which point you can copyright them. Some folks mail the song to themselves and don't open the package.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Just remember, if you want to sue the song MUST be registered at copyright.gov (or so I understand). They are "copyrighted" by you as soon as they are placed on a "tangible" medium. So as soon as you post an original tune here, it is considered copyrighted.
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Songwriting
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Yep. You write them you own them. Post it somewhere that date stamps it,e.g. SoundCloud and don't worry unless it's lawsuit time at which point you can copyright them. Some folks mail the song to themselves and don't open the package. The only thing that will stand up in court is a copyright from the government. Don't wait until you want to sue as the other party may have copyrighted it themselves and then you are SOL.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Songwriting
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Thanks for the replies! I guess what I've been doing is the way it should be done. I just feel, every so often, it's best to check your methods. I've had too many times in my life where there was "a better way" after the fact! Thanks all! 
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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Yep. You write them you own them. Post it somewhere that date stamps it,e.g. SoundCloud and don't worry unless it's lawsuit time at which point you can copyright them. Some folks mail the song to themselves and don't open the package. The only thing that will stand up in court is a copyright from the government. Don't wait until you want to sue as the other party may have copyrighted it themselves and then you are SOL. According to U.S. copyright law, songwriters own their songs the moment their songs are completed You would simply have to prove via the posted date that you copyrighted the song. When you put "copyright 2016" beside it it is copyrighted. Really that it. You can then register your copyright at the US office if you choose but that is not required for the song to be considered legally copyrighted. So you aren't SOL. Just in for more of a hassle should it be stolen Here's a good perspective. http://www.greatamericansong.com/copyrights.php
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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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. That's right from the copyright office.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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PG Music Staff
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>> You would simply have to prove via the posted date that you copyrighted the song
Yes, if you emailed it to yourself at a hosted email like gmail or hotmail, that would be be strong proof of the date that it was sent. Because that couldn't be faked. You could open up the account, and show whoever was interested that gmail or hotmail received the email.
There could be problems with things mailed to your house, because you could mail yourself an unsealed envelope, and then seal it years later, after inserting something after-the-fact.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Hi Ok anyone know the copyright agency in Britan and Ireland?or can people outside USA copyright with .gov ?
Thanks Hugh
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Songwriting
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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. That's right from the copyright office. And more right from the same FAQ at the US copyright office "Do I have to register with your office to be protected? No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.” From stopfakes.gov Do I Have to Register My Copyright Claim? Last Published: 7/16/2016 No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright protection exists from the moment the work is created (fixed in a tangible medium). However, registration provides important benefits, such as proof of ownership. In addition, copyright owners who have registered their copyright have additional remedies if their copyright is infringed. Visit the U.S. Copyright Office for details about U.S. copyright law. The key is proof of ownership. If you post a song to to a website with X date then a thief would have to prove that they have an earlier date that can be affixed to the song. Now would it be easier for you to prove them wrong if the song were registered? Perhaps. But the copyright allows you no legal assistance...nothing but readily accessible documentation of the date you registered it. Would that be stronger in a court of law? Beats me. All I've been trying to point out is that the copyright office does not copyright your material. And in this day and age their documentation of registration may be an antiquated mechanism given the multitude of opportunities to affix dates to it via the web.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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From everything I have heard, that whole "mail a copy to yourself" is just a myth and has absolutely no standing in a legal dispute. I think Mario is right about being SOL if you fail to copyright your work and later have to prove ownership. Of course, the odds any most/none of us will ever need this protection!
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And a website provides no proof of copyright! I can post to my own website and then change the date any time I want. I would assume SoundCloud and others can do the same. Really proves nothing.
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From the US government site: "Copyright Protection Is Automatic Under the present copyright law, which became effective January 1, 1978, a work is automatically protected by copyright when it is created. A work is created when it is “fixed” or embodied in a copy or phonorecord for the first time. Neither registration in the Copyright Office nor publication is required for copyright protection under the law." I'm out
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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No one is arguing that your work is not automatically copyrighted. It is! Most people know this.
Yet there is still a Very Important Reason serious writers still use copyright registration...because it is MUCH easier to prove ownership when a song is registered with the copyright office.
Disputes involving registered works are settled with a simple letter that includes a copy of the registration. One stamp and a copy. Case closed. Done deal.
On the other hand if someone big stole your song and your only proof of ownership is a letter you mailed yourself, you are still tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars in legal fees away from possibly winning that case!
Last edited by JohnJohnJohn; 12/15/16 01:24 PM.
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I never suggested that a letter was the way to go only that some folks use that method. If you have a song posted at SoundCloud or soundclick or reverbnation or other such sites then in a court of law the infringer would have to show similar evidence of their "ownership" that predates yours or hire a Russian hacker However, if I were writing for commercial interests I'd register them...or at least I would at the point somebody showed any interest. I was only suggesting that there are alternatives ways of recording your date of ownership that are viable but perhaps nowhere as seamless as "real" registration. Heck, at my level I'd be gobsmacked and flabbergasted and flattered if someone attempted to appropriate one of my tunes!
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Heck, at my level I'd be gobsmacked and flabbergasted and flattered if someone attempted to appropriate one of my tunes!
I am with you here Bud. I was relieved to learn that my songs are copyrighted as soon as I upload to the web. With so little time to devote to making music I prefer to spend my time writing the songs. I think too many amateur musicians think that there is someone trawling sites to try and steal their songs while in reality we are much more likely to fade into obscurity that have our songs nicked.
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I think that regardless of what anyone here has posted, myself included, if one is truly interested in copyrighting then they should contact a good lawyer that knows about such things.
I copyrighted every original that Pumping Station Road, a group that I have studio worked with, has written. I doubt very much that anyone is interested in my originals.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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