How to Copyright Your Music | Copyright Tips for Musicians

[@vitalrichconcept]

Thanks. That was helpful.

[@octavioguval6921]

Thank you for all your help. This is a very valuable information that every songwriter will appreciate. I still have a question and I would like that you or maybe someone else clarify me: I just wrote another "Ave Maria", the fact is that there are many composers that have written one or more than one of them. The most famous and beautiful are F. Shubert's, Bach - Gounod and Vavilov (or Caccini) among others. There are more than 90 registered along the years 1400s to 2000s. Almost all of them or many of them have practically the same lyrics which is virtually the Salve (Hail Mary prayer). My lyric's is the same as the prayer too, but not exactly and it has some differences, basically in the order of the words and also it have extras. My question is: - Do I have to register this composition together with the lyrics o I can not register the lyrics because is very similar to the others. Any way the lyrics of an Ave Maria should be the Hail Mary prayer, like all the others, but I don't know if I have to register with it or not. Thank you Very much one more time. God bless you for helping others blindly.

[@ancientwatchmanTV]

Very informative! Thank you very much!! 🎉

[@ube-23s]

I did my own. There are a lot of help on KZbin. They show with actual form what to press the actual application. But like she says, if you don't have time for all this get your lawyer to do it for you.

[@margaritacox6803]

Thanks! Very informative! After the form is submitted, can you publish right after or do you need to wait until copyrights have been granted?

[@Zoren8141]

Thank you for that info.

[@rossclark3126]

Thank You your information was very helpful for a want are be Song writer Ross Clark thanks you put in the effort letting people who are not so well of, can't afford a lawyer. Just saying why you have been so helpful. thanks again.

[@ThisDeservesTheMusic]

Thank you for this info! It was very helpful

[@BarryGrueter]

Great information, thanks 😊

[@hanijlove9768]

Thank you so much ma..❤❤❤

[@scottfishkind5335]

Thank you!

[@DMVButterfly]

Another great vlog. 🦋

[@octavioguval6921]

Hi! I am Octavio again. I still have the same question that I think it may be important at any time one wants to register a composition. In short: I need to know if I have to copyright the lyrics of my work or not. Specifics for this case: I am writing an “Ave Maria” and one thing in common to all Ave Marias is that the lyrics is the “salve” (Hail Mary Prayer) with some differences between one to another of those compositions. My Ave Maria have differences as well but at the end is more or less the same thing. I don’t know if I have to copyright it or not or even if I can copyright it or not. I only need a little more of information about this Thank you very much and God bless you! Octavio Guval

[@sohailsamson828]

Great information. Thank you. I transcript Christian Punjabi/Urdu songs of other composers and lyricists, but I also mention their names on the sheets. I also create preludes and intervals for them. Should I still need to copyright my material? Please advise. Thank you

[@JoanaMendes-q7k]

Tradução ❤🎉

[@anemonaloco]

what about the album art? do i need a different or additional form for that?

[@RRRSoulEvan]

Hey I have a question I’m copyrighting my music as a group of unpublished works but theirs one thing bugging me. What if I have one song already published part of the unpublished works because out of all of them their is one that’s on Spotify and major platforms but the rest is not do I have to separate that as publish works or it doesn’t matter because it’ll still be protected?

[@scottfishkind5335]

I was curious about getting some clarity on when you say published. If a final recording for release is completed is that considered published even if it was self funded and released both through streaming services and hardcopy CDs?

[@80sJayOfficial]

Hi, I am a songwriter who composes the music, writes the lyrics, writes & sings the melodies, and arranges all the chords of my songs. I record simple piano and vocal performances of my completed songs to copyright. I am not technically producing my songs, but instead, I am just recording them in their simplest form. Eventually, the songs will be produced properly by either myself or another artist. My question to you is this: Since my songs are structurally complete recorded piano & vocal works, would these songs fall under a (SR) sound recording copyright or a (PA) performing arts copyright? Lastly, would the copyrights need to be renewed or updated once the songs were properly produced to a finished mastered work? Thank you 🎶 🎵 80sJay

[@810studiosofclinton]

Does the uploading to a distribution site, email, or an online repository count as a timestamp record?

[@worldwideepisode]

i need help

[@spatialoptic]

I’m sorry but what is the difference between published and unpublished?

[@cnlicnli]

@spatialoptic wrote, “…what is the difference between published and unpublished [works]?” Here’s my artist, non-attorney definition of “publication”: “Publication” typically means you’ve personally authorized your creative work to be released and made available (or offered) to the public for licensing, selling, sharing, downloading, or for further distribution (either for free or for payment). The day you deliver your work to your client or a stock photo library or the day you list your work (for sale or licensing or sharing) is likely the official date of its first-publication. If I’m just “displaying” my work on my website as a portfolio presentation to show my creative skills and I’m NOT making any attempt to sell, license, distribute/share them, or permit their downloading, then I deem those works to be un-published. To reinforce this un-publication status, I’ll include language on my website “Term of Use/Privacy” section and next to the work that they are un-published and are NOT available for sale, licensing, sharing, or otherwise (however, I still make sure those un-published works are IMMEDIATELY registered). Here’s the official US copyright statute definition of “publication”: “‘Publication’ is the distribution of copies or phonorecords [music recordings like CDs, LP, etc.] of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies or phonorecords to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution, public performance [music, plays, etc.], or public display [of artworks, etc.], constitutes publication. A public performance or display of a work does not of itself constitute publication.” See 17 USC § 101 (Definitions) or see the US Copyright Office Circular 1 (Copyright Basics, page 7): www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf Unless your work is popular, well-known to the public, the US Copyright Office (USCO) will typically not know its publication status. Therefore, the USCO will defer to you to determine if your work has been published, as you’re best to know the scope of your work. In a 2020 US Supreme Court case (Unicolors vs. H&M), the court was sympathetic to artists, creators, and other non-lawyers who were preparing their copyright registration applications. As long as you’re using your *good-faith effort* to identify the publication status of your work, and you’ve filled out your copyright registration application *as best you can,* you will not be penalized if you make innocent mistakes! Just be honest and do NOT lie when filling out your copyright registration application. So I don’t have to face the “publication dilemma” (is my work published or un-published), I register my creative works as un-published, and certainly BEFORE I start selling, licensing, sharing/posting on social media, etc. After registering my unpublished works, I wait at least two days before “officially publish” them, as I don’t want to register them on, say, Monday, and on that very Monday publish them. If I have to publish immediately (the client is waiting for my work), then I’ll register my works as published, and NO later than three-months of its first-date of publication. You can also contact the USCO if you have general questions; however, they’re not allowed to give you legal advice.

[@TheKianaRoe]

@@cnlicnliTHANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!

[@cnlicnli]

@@TheKianaRoe Write back if you need USCO tips/links on how to register your works, including which copyright registration applications to use.

[@drweiss8]

what about movie titles

[@cnlicnli]

Copyright does NOT protect TITLES of things, including movies, books, songs, cartoons, etc. Trademarks, on the other hand, might be able to protect a movie title if it’s a series of sequels and prequels, like Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc.

[@YinYangDPW]

For "registered" copyrights all this is true. But I've always been under the impression that the mere creation and usage of "copyrightable" material created an automatic level of copyright ownership, rights, and protection whether "registered" or not. I think it's called common law copyright. Is this not true ?

[@wildgulo131]

This is true, as soon as the original work is created it is copyrighted....BUT...BUT and I found this out the hard way. By registering you get Statutory Damages (I think it is a minimum of $30K)...and potentially punitive damages. If you don't register...you have to prove "loss". i.e. "yeah we stole your material, big deal...where is your loss? What revenue did you lose?" In our case, we produced an environmental training document that we were planning on using for a bunch of different clients. What we entered into was a legit protective contract with said client, BUT when this same company we worked with handed it to another consultant who rebranded it under their own name (unbelievable) we went to a powerhouse legal firm and the first thing they asked was "was it registered". We had to say No, it was in process (que up the WTF "are you idiots" look), which it was, but not yet registered. Too bad, so sad for us, we could have sued and basically broke even. With a registered copyright it would have been a 6 figure+ penalty. In the end, we ended up paying about $60K to get a formal Cease and Desist in place because we had a bunch of famous photogs images as "a one time use" that we had to protect. Total CF. Lesson learned. It is worth the money ($35 at the time) to protect yourself and your works. I've copyrighted about 10 things, never regretted spending the money or time. My two cents. So as I understand it, the courts view it this way...IF you think your work is so valuable and proprietary, it is incumbent upon you to take all the steps necessary to protect it. Then they'll drop the hammer on infringers. If not, you are rolling the dice.

[@El-Azar]

Yes that’s natural copyright

[@cnlicnli]

Creative works not timely registered with the US Copyright Office, either registered before the infringement begins or registered within three-months of their first-dates of publication, are typically *NOT* enforceable for money damages (and attorney + legal fees) against US-based copyright infringers. UN-registered works (automatic copyright claims) are, too often, worthless!

[@celestecorona611]

Thank you!!!