Register with SAMRO, and don't get too excited about cdbaby. Everything has a price with them, nothing is for free, collecting, pushing your songs to movie peeps, ad peeps etc all costs, and with our exchange rate it adds up fast. They are also affiliated to reverb nation, this also doesn't add up to SALES. One of my songs has been at number 10 twice with them, it still means nothing sales wise. B-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-t -- don't let me put you off,,,,,, go for it

Thanks alot for the input!

I would like to register our songs of our EP at SAMRO so I'm just wondering, I fill in the Notification of Works and the Deed of Assignment, is there anything that would conflict with everything that CDBaby does when the times comes and we want to distribute online?

And most importantly, do you guys know how long it takes after you submit the Notification of Works until your songs are copyrighted? We have someone that wants to take our EP to a friend of his in the US but we first want copyright on our songs.

Nothing will clash with cdbaby, everything will be ok, on the sign-up form with cdbaby there is a place for you to state which organization you are affiliated to, and SAMRO is on their list, so that in essence should be safe. I read up once on an American guitar site where a person in the know stated that in american law, when someone writes something down, it is automatically copy written to that particular person, so, even tho' you don't live there, the fact is, that in the eyes of Yankee Doodle law, you have automatic protection. This was written by a guy who had studied the law, and was given as fact. Hope this helps, but, go for everything that is on offer [and is affordable] I spoke to Eugene Goolou at SAMRO, and he said that the moment that they receive a hard copy cd of someone's works [music] then copy write protection is immediate.

b1scu1t wrote: And most importantly, do you guys know how long it takes after you submit the Notification of Works until your songs are copyrighted? We have someone that wants to take our EP to a friend of his in the US but we first want copyright on our songs.

deebee wrote: I read up once on an American guitar site where a person in the know stated that in american law, when someone writes something down, it is automatically copy written to that particular person, so, even tho' you don't live there, the fact is, that in the eyes of Yankee Doodle law, you have automatic protection. This was written by a guy who had studied the law, and was given as fact. Hope this helps, but, go for everything that is on offer [and is affordable] I spoke to Eugene Goolou at SAMRO, and he said that the moment that they receive a hard copy cd of someone's works [music] then copy write protection is immediate.

Yes, I study copyright law, its one of my main field of interests (specifically music law), and that is absolutely correct. You don't register copyright, the moment you write a song, and its yours, the song will have copyright. If someone tries to claim it as their own or use it without authorisation, you can certainly stop them.

How it works in SA and USA is kinda the same. There are differences. But thanks to international law the Americans have to treat all foreign (non-USA) song writers as they would treat their own copyright artists. So yes, your songs have copyright worldwide. Well at least in the countries that count.

Apparently only China and Russia won't and don't abide by the international law, tho' i'm not too sure how many rock groups have come out if China, and apart from Gorky Park, i don't think that Russia has too much going for it musically speaking. PUT YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE, you never know what the future has in store ? ? ? ? ? ?

Guys, I've just been involved in quite a few meetings recently at SAMRO and did meet with Eugene regarding copyright.

SAMRO have stated that they DO NOT and never have protected artist's copyright. In fact they don't even want you to submit hard copy (cd, mp3, manuscript) to them when submitting notification of works.

The only thing that SAMRO do is the paying out of royalties. As far as copyright protection is concerned, the advice given by them is to either post a copy of your work to yourself and keep the envelope sealed or email the work to yourself so that there is a date in case of having to prove that you indeed were the composer and author.

There is no waiting period when submitting works to them. Someone mentioned a two year wait. SAMRO will start claiming royalties on your behalf as soon as you've submitted the relevant documentation.

If you look on their website they now clearly state that you don't have to send cds etc.

Cheers,

Peter.

PJH wrote: There is no waiting period when submitting works to them. Someone mentioned a two year wait. SAMRO will start claiming royalties on your behalf as soon as you've submitted the relevant documentation.

Perhaps their requirements have changed, I know for a fact that they used to require that your songs be played/published for 2 years before you can become a member (they will still collect the royalties however).

Adrian Rogowski wrote:

PJH wrote: There is no waiting period when submitting works to them. Someone mentioned a two year wait. SAMRO will start claiming royalties on your behalf as soon as you've submitted the relevant documentation.

Perhaps their requirements have changed, I know for a fact that they used to require that your songs be played/published for 2 years before you can become a member (they will still collect the royalties however).

The requirement for SAMRO to make you a member is that once you start generating income by earning royalties it becomes viable for them to make you a member. It could take a few months or a few years...

I wouldn't worry too much about that copyright right now, rather put your songs on a digital platform, be it soundcloud or even youtube. that should date stamp it. Regards stealing your ideas, guaranteed master songwriters know how to steel an idea and avoid litigation. Exhibit A

Todd Snider If tomorrow never comes and explains it all
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Todd Snider Beer Run
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Garth Brooks Beer Run
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Garth Brooks If tomorrow never comes
Garth Brooks - If Tomorrow Never Comes ( CMT stone country ).mpg

Okey dokey, then things have most definitely changed. They would not accept an e-mail of my 2 songs that i registered, i HAD to mail a hard copy cd to them via registered post. I was also given the 2 year storey. C'est la Vie ?