Every aspiring musician needs to have a basic understanding of the United States copyright laws. It’s never been easier for people to steal other’s ideas, sounds and creations, and if your personal art isn’t properly protected, you run the risk of legally losing it. Keep your music safe by learning a little more about copyright and how it keeps the creator protected. This guide will show you what is and isn’t covered under general copyright laws, and how to register your music.
What Is Copyright?
Copyright is a form of ownership and protection given to the creators of original works of art, including music, dance, literary and dramatic pieces of work. This provides legal rights for the creator of the piece, as well as excludes others from any form of ownership or profitability from the work. Copyright goes into effect at the moment of creation of the piece, but you need to register it with the Unites States government in order to ensure it’s fully protected and enforced. As the owner of the work, copyright guarantees you the following rights:
- Reproduction of the work
- Any adaptations or rearrangements
- Performances
- Displays, distributions and the right to sell any copies
- Inclusion or addition of any visual images to the original work
- License rights to others to do any of the above mentioned items
If you register your copyright piece with the Unites States government, your work is protected for a certain amount of time. Typically, the term is 70 years after the date of death of the composer. If you created your piece of art with another composer, the 70 years will start after the death of the last living creator. If you create music for a company, it is often considered “work for hire,” and the piece will remain the company’s personal property to use as it deems necessary. The company can own the piece of music for 95 years from its first publication, or 120 years after its creation date.
How to Register for Copyright
The easiest way to register for copyright on your original piece of music is through the United States government copyright website. You may also apply through mail, but this is a much longer process and may take up to 15 months to secure. Here are four easy steps to follow in order to secure a copyright.
- Create a copy of your musical piece. You can put the song on a CD, a USB drive, an MP3, a video recording or any other option that clearly transfers the music to another device. Once the song has been recorded, it is copyrighted, but in order to have it be fully protected, you need to register it.
- Go to www.copyright.gov. This website allows you to submit your music online, or you can send it in via the mail. You will want to understand the difference between a musical composition and a sound recording, as each has different forms. Depending on the type of music you created, you may need to fill out both forms. Read the guidelines on the website carefully before making your selection.
- Pay any applicable fees and upload your music to the site.
- Check back periodically to see if your request for copyright was approved.
Poor Man’s Copyright
Some composers boast of copyright alternatives, often referred to as “poor man’s copyright” where the songwriter simply mails him or herself a recording of the music via certified mail and keeps it indefinitely sealed. Other ideas that some composers consider copyright is to put your music on social media networks or YouTube in order to time-stamp them. These are not effective ways to protect your original music. The best way to ensure your song is safe from thieves is to apply for a copyright.
Legal Disclaimer
The content on our website is only meant to provide general information and is not legal advice. We make our best efforts to make sure the information is accurate, but we cannot guarantee it. Do not rely on the content as legal advice. For assistance with legal problems or for a legal inquiry please contact you attorney.