How do I copyright my music???

[Monsta-Tone]

We've been looking for a singer. As of now, 3 people (flakes) have our music and are not in our band!
I need to know how to copyright music in a way that is bullet proof!

I've always heard (and done) that you could send the music on a CD to yourself via Certified Letter and this would take care of it.
This website says that mailing it to yourself is not valid: http://www.copyrightauthority.com/poor-mans-copyright/
But...it only talks about mailing an envelope to yourself.
If you mail a Certified Letter, there is a sticker placed over the envelope flap and a card that you have to sign when you receive the letter.


Anyway.....we have some really good tunes and I don't want some **** head stealing them!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[domct203]

Hi Andy,
To protect yourself you need to do two things:

Register your work with the Copyright Office of the Library Of Congress. Use form SR or PA, most of us (original bands) will use form SR. Read here: http://www.musicpowers.com/copyrights.html

Join BMI (free when I joined years ago) or ASCAP (not free). Once you are a member you can register your works as a musical or performing artisit which will not only protect your royalty rights, but also back-up your copyright claim.

Mailing yourself a CD (registered, certified, or whatever) will not hold up in court against a competent lawyer, it needs to be registered in the Library Of Congress.

Dom

 

[gonzo]

there's only one way.

read this

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/BasicFacts_with_correct_links.pdf

NOPE, THIS LINK INSTEAD:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/


then go do it.

i just did an album's worth of songs, for $35 on line.

just received the official .gov receipt in the mail, it took 3 weeks.

 

[domct203]

there's only one way.

read this

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/BasicFacts_with_correct_links.pdf


then go do it.

i just did an album's worth of songs, for $35 on line.

just received the official .gov receipt in the mail, it took 3 weeks.

The info you linked is regarding Trademarks. A Trademark is used to protect a logo or specific original artwork or drawing.

A copyright is needed to protect the Sound Recording or Performing Art works. (The document in that link actually states that)

Did you Copyright or Trademark your album?

 

[gonzo]

WOOPS WRONG LINK


http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/


FIXED IT IN THE ORIGINAL REPLY...

bottom line, it's easy to find this stuff out.