Well, fine, Dave, but a local or county court is not going to hear a copyright infringement case. So it doesn't matter if you file in small claims for 36 bucks... they can't pass judgement, because copyright law is federal law. Local and county courts try local statutes, state courts hear cases relating to state constitutions. If you want to press a copyright case, you do it in a federal court.

I will again, before withdrawing from this oncoming clown pile, repeat this mantra: don't get your legal info from an online forum. Get good source, get a lawyer, learn the real stuff, and if you intend to shop your music around then get it registered.

There's a Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy is sleeping in the grass when Linus and Charlie Brown walk by talking about how strong a mule's kick is. Snoopy wakes up and hears them as they walk by and Linus is saying, "I heard that a mule's kick is so powerful they can kick down a barn door!"

Snoopy puzzles over this for a panel, then gets up and for the next three panels takes a few wild practice kicks. Finally, he lies back down in the grass, closes his eyes, and thinks, "Ridiculous."

Just because you feel your kitchen table songs weren't worthy of protection doesn't mean that the OP's aren't. And there's much more to the music business than making a "hit album." I do sit in my basement making recordings of my songs, for a living. Last year, among 30 other projects, I wrote a musical ID that is being used on cable TV and radio across North America... that one :60 tune paid more than most people make in three years.

There's nothing stupid about protecting your work if you intended to get paid for it. And you don't have to be The Next Big Thing to do it.

Mr. Bordner, I wish I were a musician like you instead of a lawyer. Serious comment. Not being sarcastic. Alas, I bought myself my first guitar at age 35.

I've written many songs. Many bands have played them and agents have seen me and offered me the worst contracts I've ever seen. I am not poor and I make a decent living. Those recording company's will steal your song and money. Pay the money for a Lawyer if you are serious. AR guys will sell you to a recording contract with a lawyer representing you. I give my songs away now, I don't care who hears them and steals them. I'm happy to be playing in bands and playing my songs and still getting paid to do it. By the way, you have to be gifted to write good songs that you can play to a stranger and he likes it sober.