Instrumental version of a copyrighted song still protected?

[charlie2]

Hi everyone:

My question is the following:

Is an instrumental version of a copyrighted song still fully protected?

Or do I have to copyright the instrumental version too?

Thanks for ya help.

[lowden2000]

Hey Charlie,

To be on the safe side, you could include the instrumental version in an "opus" kind of CD that contains different tracks and which you send to the Library of Congress for copyrighting.
It doesn't cost any extra, and this way the instrumental version would also be documented for copyrights.
Here is a link to the Library of Congress copyright forms:

http://www.benedict.com/Info/Law/Forms/formsr.pdf

Not sure that's the latest revision though - double check ...


Best,
Dirk