How wrong most people copyrighting songs and music really works. For example, getting a copyright for your music has nothing to do with the copyright office.
Even their information booklet Copyright Office, Copyright Basics (3 pages) explains it:
"Copyright protection is often the way is safe. Mistaken .. Copyright Office registration or other action is necessary to secure the copyright."
2. A copyright is automatic:
The truth is that a song is copyrighted to achieve an automated process that occurs as a physical moment puts a song or music. This means that when you first write down the words and / or music on paper, or before them a CD or tape, or digital file on record.
You do not need it to register with the Copyright Office.
You do not need to put a copyright notice anywhere.
You automatically - and legally - the moment you put the song in the physical form, even, and no further action necessary with its copyright.
It's a done deal!
But wait ... Here's where things get a bit trickier ...
3. To prove its automatic copyright:
Copyright proved to be an automatic is not the same as you!
The most important thing you can be sure that you prove when you first put your content in physical form to make way. In other words, when you your self need to get proof of copyright!
And that's where the copyright is registered comes in.
Registering your copyright means that you make it a public record. And the many different ways you can do: You can register with the Copyright Office. Or you can register with a private registration service. Either way just makes your job after a public record so you can prove your song copyright date.
4. "Poor man's copyright" Do not bother with:
But one thing you should not "poor man's copyright" to protect yourself depends on the method. Because, contrary to popular belief, it does not work!
(Poor man's copyright when you yourself [or a friend] mail a copy of their songs and then not open the envelope so you later use the postmark to prove that you first try to written material can.)
In fact, the poor man's copyright law has never been acknowledged in a court! And the reason is simple: it is still easy to tamper with an envelope or postmark. Also, witnesses and witnesses in the court of this kind is considered not reliable because they are interested in the matter as yourself or your friends use it!
5. His songs are easy to defend:
Songregistration.com either as a reputed private firm, or Copyright Office - - so always use a free registration service to register your songs.
A bit more information ... If you ever need to actually sue someone for copyright infringement, and you wrote the song in the U.S., you even before actually filing suit with the Copyright Office will need to file your song. But that your copyright "Life" (which the composer's lifetime plus 70 years) can be made at any time during, and even one attempted theft or of your song for copyright ownership After registering!
