Copyright summary
Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff
- vasek.g3
- Getting Busy
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:45 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Czech republic
- Contact:
Copyright summary
I wish to make some list of rules about the copyright basics, with more interest there are even more information than I expected.
I´ll start and expand the list in the next days, any corrections and ideas are appreciated. If there is already some summary please let me know... Thank you!
So what I found:
Example:
I´m author (songwriter, composer, ...) which finishes the work (track, lyrics,... ) and before
using, broadcasting , etc. the work somewhere I´d like to have guarantee (at least good feeling about that :- ) to be the owner of the copyright.
1) Automatically when I write or compose something it is copyrighted.
2) Local company which provides services for songwriters, composers, musicians, ....
3) I, you join ....
* ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; founded and run by composers, authors and publishers which makes up it's membership) or ....
* BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.; run by broadcasters) or .....
* SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors & Composers) - not easy to be a member
* The Guild of International Songwriters & Composers (UK) - http://www.songwriters-guild.co.uk/home.htm
* PRS - Performing Right Society (UK)
4) I, you: can register my work on http://www.copyright.gov/ (under http://www.loc.gov) - very slow process (by mail), online system is faster
5) .....
(The "envelope" system - time stamp)
ASCAP explanation http://www.ascap.com/musicbiz/copyright_tips.html
thanks for your opinions and experience
Vašek
I´ll start and expand the list in the next days, any corrections and ideas are appreciated. If there is already some summary please let me know... Thank you!
So what I found:
Example:
I´m author (songwriter, composer, ...) which finishes the work (track, lyrics,... ) and before
using, broadcasting , etc. the work somewhere I´d like to have guarantee (at least good feeling about that :- ) to be the owner of the copyright.
1) Automatically when I write or compose something it is copyrighted.
2) Local company which provides services for songwriters, composers, musicians, ....
3) I, you join ....
* ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; founded and run by composers, authors and publishers which makes up it's membership) or ....
* BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.; run by broadcasters) or .....
* SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors & Composers) - not easy to be a member
* The Guild of International Songwriters & Composers (UK) - http://www.songwriters-guild.co.uk/home.htm
* PRS - Performing Right Society (UK)
4) I, you: can register my work on http://www.copyright.gov/ (under http://www.loc.gov) - very slow process (by mail), online system is faster
5) .....
(The "envelope" system - time stamp)
ASCAP explanation http://www.ascap.com/musicbiz/copyright_tips.html
thanks for your opinions and experience
Vašek
Last edited by vasek.g3 on Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:26 pm, edited 19 times in total.
- vasek.g3
- Getting Busy
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:45 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Czech republic
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
Some more useful info about copyright: http://www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ ... index.html
- Casey H
- King of the World
- Posts: 14199
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:22 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
- vasek.g3
- Getting Busy
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:45 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Czech republic
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
Dear Casey,
thanks a lot for the link and your interest!
thanks a lot for the link and your interest!
-
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 4620
- Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:19 pm
- Gender: Male
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
You CAN actually get away cheaper if you copyright with ISA in the UK, where you pay 50£ annually to be a member, but can copyright any amount of songs you'd like for free within that fee. http://www.songwriters-guild.co.uk/home.htm This makes it a lot more digestive when you do 100+ instrumentals a year..
As far as I understand, copyrights with ISA are also valid in a US court of law, but you won't then benefit from the particular paragraph 101 in the US Copyright Act which is more specific in the definition of terms than in other countries.
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#101
Without those definitions, copyright law is a lot less unclear, and you will probably need a better (more expensive) lawyer to state your claim. Other countries have a definitions section too, of course, but seems a lot less clear and not as specific for music business as the American one.
I'm NOT a laywer, so the usual disclaimer applies here, though.
As far as I understand, copyrights with ISA are also valid in a US court of law, but you won't then benefit from the particular paragraph 101 in the US Copyright Act which is more specific in the definition of terms than in other countries.
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#101
Without those definitions, copyright law is a lot less unclear, and you will probably need a better (more expensive) lawyer to state your claim. Other countries have a definitions section too, of course, but seems a lot less clear and not as specific for music business as the American one.
I'm NOT a laywer, so the usual disclaimer applies here, though.
Ceo of my own life
- Kazak
- Impressive
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:51 am
- Gender: Female
- Location: Kazakhstan
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
Vasek:
Good information. I would add that the US Library of Congress is VERY slow with their copyrights. I have had some that have taken 1 1/2 years to get back, however once it is RECEIVED by them, that's as good as finished. It's important to get a delivery acknowledgment via UPS or other company with a tracking system. I did my first online copyrights back in May, and I got them back in the mail a few weeks ago, so the online service is much faster.
All the best,
Good information. I would add that the US Library of Congress is VERY slow with their copyrights. I have had some that have taken 1 1/2 years to get back, however once it is RECEIVED by them, that's as good as finished. It's important to get a delivery acknowledgment via UPS or other company with a tracking system. I did my first online copyrights back in May, and I got them back in the mail a few weeks ago, so the online service is much faster.
All the best,
Alicia Selby
"Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people & things that went before, I know I'll often
stop & think about them, in my life, I love you more ." The Beatles
http://www.aliciaselby.com
http://www.myspace.com/aliciaselbysmusic
http://www.itunes.com/aliciaselby
http://www.twitter.com/aliciaselby
"Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people & things that went before, I know I'll often
stop & think about them, in my life, I love you more ." The Beatles
http://www.aliciaselby.com
http://www.myspace.com/aliciaselbysmusic
http://www.itunes.com/aliciaselby
http://www.twitter.com/aliciaselby
- vasek.g3
- Getting Busy
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:45 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Czech republic
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
Dear Mrs. Alicia,Kazak wrote:Vasek:
Good information. I would add that the US Library of Congress is VERY slow with their copyrights. I have had some that have taken 1 1/2 years to get back, however once it is RECEIVED by them, that's as good as finished. It's important to get a delivery acknowledgment via UPS or other company with a tracking system. I did my first online copyrights back in May, and I got them back in the mail a few weeks ago, so the online service is much faster.
All the best,
thanks for your information and experience.
I have updated the list above...
- vasek.g3
- Getting Busy
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:45 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Czech republic
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
Dear Mrs. Magne,thesongcabinet wrote:You CAN actually get away cheaper if you copyright with ISA in the UK, where you pay 50£ annually to be a member, but can copyright any amount of songs you'd like for free within that fee. http://www.songwriters-guild.co.uk/home.htm This makes it a lot more digestive when you do 100+ instrumentals a year..
As far as I understand, copyrights with ISA are also valid in a US court of law, but you won't then benefit from the particular paragraph 101 in the US Copyright Act which is more specific in the definition of terms than in other countries.
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#101
Without those definitions, copyright law is a lot less unclear, and you will probably need a better (more expensive) lawyer to state your claim. Other countries have a definitions section too, of course, but seems a lot less clear and not as specific for music business as the American one.
I'm NOT a laywer, so the usual disclaimer applies here, though.
thanks for your info. What you wrote seems to me very clear. I added your information to the summary too.
- shanegrla
- Impressive
- Posts: 429
- Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:53 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: NYC
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
I would scratch off #2. The "envelope" system is a myth. I've heard that sending it to yourself doesn't do any good at all. At least, it doesn't hold up in a court of law.
iMac 21.5" (2017) Intel Core i7 3.6GHz, 1TB SSD, 32GB RAM
PreSonus Quantum 2 interface
Mac OSX 10.15.6
1 G-Drive Pro 4 TB
2 G-Drive 4 TB
ProTools 2019.9.1
Melodyne 4
Soundtoys Bundle 5
Omnisphere 2
Massey L2007
Superior Drummer 2
Komplete 11U
PreSonus Quantum 2 interface
Mac OSX 10.15.6
1 G-Drive Pro 4 TB
2 G-Drive 4 TB
ProTools 2019.9.1
Melodyne 4
Soundtoys Bundle 5
Omnisphere 2
Massey L2007
Superior Drummer 2
Komplete 11U
- Hookjaw Brown
- Committed Musician
- Posts: 731
- Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:29 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Wilds of Northern California
- Contact:
Re: Copyright summary
I wait till I have 7 - 10 songs and then send them in to the US Copyright Office for $35 a batch via electronic submission. You can check on the progress via the web. I feel that once the copyright office has the songs in their system I am good to go. The nice parchment that comes in the mail several months after submission is cool to touch though.
I could be wrong.
I could be wrong.
Hookjaw
"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it left". - Seasick Steve
http://www.taxi.com/hookjawbrown
"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it left". - Seasick Steve
http://www.taxi.com/hookjawbrown
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests