When To File Copyright Claims For Songs?

[dtrain1234]

Hi,

So far I have two songs that are copyrighted, and it costs me $35 to register both of them with the Library of Congress. I joined ASCAP as a writer and a publisher, which cost me $45 to register for both transactions. I guess my question is, should I always register my work and pay the money for each song after it gets recorded or should I wait until I have enough for a CD and then put all of them on the CD and just pay the money for the CD? After you are done getting a song recorded you never know when or if it will get cut by an artist, or signed by another publishing company, and if it does I for sure will want to get some royalties for them. Any thoughts or suggestions? How do you do it? WIth the way the economy is, I'm just trying to save alot of my money. Thanks for your help.

[simonparker]

Hi Darin:

Really, whatever you are most comfortable with, should be the way to go. For me, if I believe the song has value, I will register a copyright immediately. Otherwise, it waits (unless I have a songwriting collab agreement in place that requires otherwise). And I always pitch songs that are copyright registered.

Regardless, copyright registration will provide little more than proof of creation. If someone wants to "rip-off" your tune or post it on P2P, are you really going to spend the money going through the legal process? Heck, with all the illegal downloading and file sharing, what will the $35 registration accomplish? Hit songs are being illegally copied all the time, despite a copyright registration in place. I think the registration is great in establishing a "time-stamp" for your created song, but it really doesn't do much else with today's technology and file sharing going on.

[grandsoul]

When the song is in its proper formation, GET IT REGISTERED BEFORE YOU MAKE IT PUBLICIZED

Even if you're putting it out as a pitch demo, its still somewhat in the public forum.

Even if you have publishing and Performance rights clearance, the copyright is your strongest protection.

www.reverbnation.com/luciusaustin
www.soundclick.com/luciusaustin
www.myspace.com/luciusaustin

[dtrain1234]

I guess I made a mistake the first time. As soon as I get every demo done I will claim the copyrights for them first, then I will upload them to MySpace, ReverbNation, Soundclick, and other networking websites.

[matto]

Darin,

the first thing you need to understand is that, as Simon said, copyright registration only provides you with proof that you created the song. So it gives you some protection against other people claiming they wrote it and making money with it. It will NOT protect you against people downloading your music, sharing it on P2P etc.

Most songwriters and composers are absolutely paranoid about others' stealing their songs (in the sense of claiming they wrote them), but in truth this is a very rare phenomenon. So there's absolutely nothing wrong with waiting until you have a number of songs ready and then registering them as a compilation. The added risk of doing this vs registering each song separately is negligable.

If you want to reduce the risk further, don't upload any of the songs to public websites such as the ones you mentioned until the registration has been received by the copyright office. But even if you do upload them, chances that you will be ripped off are very very small. There are no "song thieves" patrolling those sites in search of songs they can claim as their own ...mostly because the VAST majority of music on those sites is frankly not worth stealing...

I would also ask myself why you are uploading your music to those sites in the first place. Because by and large, they have little value for the songwriter and composer with professional aspirations.

HTH,

matto

[grandsoul]

I guess I made a mistake the first time. As soon as I get every demo done I will claim the copyrights for them first, then I will upload them to MySpace, ReverbNation, Soundclick, and other networking websites.

That's the spirit.

You can also put a series of songs on a single copyright claim form. They will be protected the same as if you filed one.

P.S. best to download over the internet. It's cheaper, and takes less time. Also, some things that were sent via mail were supposedly severely damaged in the screening process. A lot of this has been happening sense 9-11.

www reverbnation.com/luciusaustin