Have any of you ever gotten a copyright for any of your original songs before? I have some original songs that I'd like to get copyrights for, but I have no idea how it works. Does a copyright cover a song even if you make changes to it later? And can you copyright an instrumental song?

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
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From what I've read, registering is not required; you can actually put the © followed by your name and date, and it is yours. However, I would definitely check that out for sure.

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Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
Marshall: 1971 SuperLead 100>1997 1960-TV, bunch of pedals
and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica

TGS,

Google is your friend. Go to Google, enter "how to copyright a song" and you'll see a bunch of articles with good info.

RickyD

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer

as long as you have it in a tangible form (written on paper, a cd, digital recording, etc.) it's yours, you own it.... did a bit of searchin myself

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Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
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Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

Should do more searching title 101 sect.17 of the U.S copy right laws.
The original op were to post his work I could copy right before him. He would have to show proof to dispute the copy right and that it was not a coincidence that we come up with the same thing before me. That can not be done the copy right office would goto first application. If it is a paper of work that has be openly developed over years of research and documented that differs from righting a song.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I googled it. I may be even more confused now. Legal stuff makes my brain hurt.

Now I'm not so sure I need to copyright my songs. Or at least not yet. Paying $35 once for an entire album would be much more cost effective than having to pay $35 every time I write a song. And why would I want to pay anything at all for something that will probably never see the light of day? I'm just hesitant to put anything of my own on the internet since anyone could steal something from it and I'd never know.

A friend of my Dad's posted the lyrics of a song he wrote on a songwriter's forum years ago. He didn't think anything of it until he heard it on Jimmy Buffet's new album. They had tried searching for him but when they couldn't find him they just went ahead and recorded the song. So my Dad's friend contacted whoever he needed to and now he's getting royalties and everything. But it makes you stop and think about what you post on the internet.

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You know how many musicians don't get a dime for there music because they did nothing to maintain the legal rights to the music. That or they let some one else like a manager copyright in there name. Old unscrupulous handlers.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Great thread texasguitarslinger! just went through that again with the old band, that was a concern of the author of the band's recorded songs, not registering them was and is his responsibility, although many original local bands lean on the "if I've recorded it with the copy right logo on the label that should do for the demo and we'll formally register after we finish the album" which addresses the "And why would I want to pay anything at all for something that will probably never see the light of day?" an artist friend of mine lent an ear over dinner one evening as I expressed some worry over intellectual property at the company were I worked then, how I had worked on the project and it was my project although I did sign off on that issue when I started work there, she calmly looked at me with her brown eyes (I've actually had a crush on her since 4th grade) and said "you thought of all of those ideas, I'm sure you have a thousand more in that head of yours", Texas, every breath for an artist, and, every one after all, is precious, I'm inspired by you and all of the Bros and Sis's on the Forum, we post vid's of us playing or in my case standing in the studio with my bass guitar, I'm not sure about the safety of intellectual property and Myspace or youtube then again exposure is good for the most part if only because if someone sees and hears you play it, it's you, for now and future reference.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Many years ago someone suggested to send your own work to yourself via registered or certified mail. That way, if your ownership of a piece of music is contested, you will have a sealed envelope with a dated government stamp and a receipt that states the date of issue.

I'm sure that there are flaws in this method, however, if the need to prove your ownership arises you would have tangible evidence.

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Tim

Yeah thats the first thing my music teacher taught our class last year.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

I believe they mean you put it into an envelope and place the stamp over the flap in the back and take it to post office and ask to have it stamped across the seal.
I have heard that but still not sure how binding it is.

When ever the mint issues a new Bill for circulation I try to get some on the release date and place stamp on the bill and have it canceled as proof of first day issue. Stuff in safe for the grand kids!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

http://www.bmi.com/

I asked a local radio DJ and he told me to contact BMI for copyrighting.

Thanks for all the suggestions/advise guys. (Or should I say y'all?)



I trust these forums a lot more than others, we get in some stupid arguments sometimes but generally everyone gets along. And I like watching other people's videos and hearing them play too, it really is inspiring.

My main concern is with the other sites like youtube and myspace. If I posted a video of my band playing an original song there's nothing to stop another band somewhere else in the country/world from stealing it and claiming it was theirs. Another King of Blues contestant copied part of my song for his, but he let me know what he was doing and it was just a lick. I steal licks from people left and right.

I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid about it.

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I mentioned that here a long time ago when someone else asked a similar question, and I was told that the old postmark copyright is pretty much worthless and will not hold up in a court, but its probably better than nothing...

I talked with a lawyer friend about trademarks, and you can pretty much use the 'TM' symbol on anything you create whether or not its actually registered, but the circle-R logo needs to be registered...Though that probably pertains more to band names and logos than songs, I just thought I'd mention it here...

Ask around if someone might know an attorney you might be able to get some help or advice from...They can be pricey, but sometimes it takes away from the stress about understanding the fine print and making sure everything is in order so you don't end up needing to re-file or submit things, and possibly delaying things and costing more in the long run...

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RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

"I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid about it." Not at all Texas, I think it is very thoughtful and your concern is positive I think that your talent is growing exponentially, for always, your vibe is yours and those that hear you over time will know your music because of your cool vibe just like all of your favorite guitar players and you didn't even know it was happening. I will say to you what my friend said to me, " you thought of all of those idea's and I'm sure you have thousands more in that head of yours"

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.