Re: Avril's "Girlfriend" is a Ripoff of...

[Casey H]

Quote:I hear ya, Hook. I've even heard people say that getting sued is a good problem to have.....means you've arrived. Speaking of people coming up with the same idea in two remote parts of the world, I came up with what I thought was a very original title to my song. To me, it was unique. I thought no one could write something like that....LOL. I usually google titles of my songs to make sure I've got something as fresh as possible and that no one else has taken my title. Lo and behold, someone already had a title just like mine, and my idea was really out there, not a title like "I Love You" or something. I know that titles are not subject to copyright law, but still, I was bummed. They say that you can't sue over a title, but I did read an article that said some lawyers have done just that.....this is why I'll change my titles if I find an EXACT title like mine on the internet. It's probably a waste of time though....who's to say that when I write my songs, someone won't be filing a copyright on a title just like mine at the exact time...I guess that's called serendipity.BTW, Google is a great tool for songwriters in many ways. First, as Chits said, you can see who else has something like what you are thinking about. When I wrote "Painfully Single", I googled and found that no one had written a song by that title. Sometimes when I am stuck for lyrical ideas, I google general things on a subject, just for ideas. I did lyrics for a song called "Wonder Woman" years ago. It was based on a friend who was a single Mom, worked full time, etc... did it all. I called her Woman Woman. I decided to research the actual super-hero to get ideas. That helped me come up with things like the tiara in her hair, magic bracelets, invisible shield, etc...Google is good... Casey

[jchitty]

Quote:Quote:I hear ya, Hook. I've even heard people say that getting sued is a good problem to have.....means you've arrived. Speaking of people coming up with the same idea in two remote parts of the world, I came up with what I thought was a very original title to my song. To me, it was unique. I thought no one could write something like that....LOL. I usually google titles of my songs to make sure I've got something as fresh as possible and that no one else has taken my title. Lo and behold, someone already had a title just like mine, and my idea was really out there, not a title like "I Love You" or something. I know that titles are not subject to copyright law, but still, I was bummed. They say that you can't sue over a title, but I did read an article that said some lawyers have done just that.....this is why I'll change my titles if I find an EXACT title like mine on the internet. It's probably a waste of time though....who's to say that when I write my songs, someone won't be filing a copyright on a title just like mine at the exact time...I guess that's called serendipity.BTW, Google is a great tool for songwriters in many ways. First, as Chits said, you can see who else has something like what you are thinking about. When I wrote "Painfully Single", I googled and found that no one had written a song by that title. Sometimes when I am stuck for lyrical ideas, I google general things on a subject, just for ideas. I did lyrics for a song called "Wonder Woman" years ago. It was based on a friend who was a single Mom, worked full time, etc... did it all. I called her Woman Woman. I decided to research the actual super-hero to get ideas. That helped me come up with things like the tiara in her hair, magic bracelets, invisible shield, etc...Google is good... CaseyAgreed, Google is good, Casey. I too had a similar song that I did research on....I wrote a historic song about the Civil War, and I needed info there. Now, I don't think the song will be a hit because there is not much of a market for such songs...unless they're making a movie.

[horacejesse]

I did the same thing, Chit. I came up with a punning country song title that was perfect and I did not think there could be another song with that title. Cripes, I found 12 others on the BMI repetoire site. Mine had a little angle that none of the others had, but...You will not have any problems if you write a song called Yesterday, or even Light My Fire. But don't think you can get away with one you name Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. In the latter case you are going to court as the defender.

[jchitty]

Quote:I did the same thing, Chit. I came up with a punning country song title that was perfect and I did not think there could be another song with that title. Cripes, I found 12 others on the BMI repetoire site. Mine had a little angle that none of the others had, but...You will not have any problems if you write a song called Yesterday, or even Light My Fire. But don't think you can get away with one you name Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. In the latter case you are going to court as the defender. Hmm, Horace, I've never looked on the BMI repetoire site to check my titles...got a link for that? I'm almost scared to look!