How do I copyright my music?

Visashi

I would like some info on how to get my music copyrighted..help would be appreciated. Thanx! ?

FruitarGeek

Visashi wrote: I would like some info on how to get my music copyrighted..help would be appreciated. Thanx! ?

Mixerboy

If you want to register your copyright then you can go to Samro

rikus

Adrian Rogowski wrote:
Visashi wrote: I would like some info on how to get my music copyrighted..help would be appreciated. Thanx! ?
Copyright is automatically granted when you have created a song. There are no registration procedures.

Correct! Copyright vests automatically at the moment that its "reduced to material form", which is legalese for saying it's been physically produced (i.e. written down, recorded, filmed etc.) and isn't just an idea any more. Ideas don't have copyright.

Bob-Dubery

Rikus wrote:
Adrian Rogowski wrote:
Visashi wrote: I would like some info on how to get my music copyrighted..help would be appreciated. Thanx! ?
Copyright is automatically granted when you have created a song. There are no registration procedures.
Correct! Copyright vests automatically at the moment that its "reduced to material form", which is legalese for saying it's been physically produced (i.e. written down, recorded, filmed etc.) and isn't just an idea any more. Ideas don't have copyright.

Yes, but you may need to be able to prove that you reduced the idea to material form at a certain date.

The old cheap way of doing this was to make a copy on cassette or write the composition out, mail it to yourself by registered post and then keep the sealed package and all the documentation.

FruitarGeek

The post office trick is not necessary anymore. Because everything is done on computers these days it is automatically dated. So there is your proof!

PJH

Mixerboy wrote: If you want to register your copyright then you can go to Samro

SAMRO does not protect registered works. They are not interested in keeping copies of music or lyrics.

In fact if you look on their website they state that you must not send in cds, mp3s or notation to them. They are in the process of getting rid of the discs that have been supplied in the past.

doc-phil

Yeah, copyright vests automatically for music/recordings etc. This doesn't apply for films or videos for commercial use, which require a registration through CIPC.

http://www.cipc.co.za/Copyright_RegProcedure.aspx

Mixerboy

PJH wrote:
Mixerboy wrote: If you want to register your copyright then you can go to Samro
SAMRO does not protect registered works. They are not interested in keeping copies of music or lyrics.

In fact if you look on their website they state that you must not send in cds, mp3s or notation to them. They are in the process of getting rid of the discs that have been supplied in the past.

That's news, I had some stuff registered with them but it was a few years back?

PJH

Mixerboy wrote:
PJH wrote:
Mixerboy wrote: If you want to register your copyright then you can go to Samro
SAMRO does not protect registered works. They are not interested in keeping copies of music or lyrics.

In fact if you look on their website they state that you must not send in cds, mp3s or notation to them. They are in the process of getting rid of the discs that have been supplied in the past.
That's news, I had some stuff registered with them but it was a few years back?

Yep, it's news to a lot of musicians who thought that SAMRO was protecting their music. I had a discussion quite recently with them and they now say that they have never provided this service.