How to change the copyright holder

[anne]

Does anyone have experience with this?
8 songs I produced years ago were given to me by the band to do with as I will.
I'm in touch with 3 of the 4 members.
Any advice i.e. is the 4th needed if he is not listed on the copyright?

[matto]

Anybody who was involved in the writing of a particular song is a de facto co-copyright holder unless they signed something to the contrary. If masters are also involved, anybody who performed on a given master is a co-owner of that master unless they signed something to the contrary.

So you would a need written assignment of copyright from all the members who co-wrote and/or performed on the songs/masters.

[Casey H]

If you are talking about acutal registration with the copyright office, a copyright can be ammended by the party who filed the original copyright. It's expensive-- over $100 a form I think. The other parties signatures are not required on the change-- only that of the person who made the original filing.

I had a situation where I had filed a US copyright with a co-writer listed. He decided later he really didn't want the credit for the contribution and to have his signature (possibly) possibly required on future contracts. To make sure it would be totally kosher for me to sign contracts without him, I filed an ammendment to the copyright, removing him as a writer. He really did contribute so if the track makes money I'll give him a share though he really doesn't want anything.

Given the cost, I would do it all with private agreements as matto suggested and not the copyright office. I went the official route because I was signing the track with a library whose owner is very fussy and I wanted to be sure I had every legal right to not list the co-writer.

Best,
Casey

[anne]

Thank you , Mazz and Casey.

They signed private agreements, and I already own the masters. I will just need the one missing member to sign, which is just a matter of meeting up with him somewhere when I can find him again.

[Casey H]

Thank you , Mazz and Casey.

They signed private agreements, and I already own the masters. I will just need the one missing member to sign, which is just a matter of meeting up with him somewhere when I can find him again.

HA.... Mazz gets thanked for matto's posts... Not bad!!!

Casey

[anne]

Problem averted. The songs in question were not on the copyrighted collection. I have the documents signed by all, and just need to pay the $35 and file when needed.
Much simpler than the $105 base fee for transferring. Thanks for the help.