What is a copyright?
A COPYRIGHT is basically the right of the creator of an original work to control the use of their work.
How do I copyright a song? Or, more precisely, how do I register my copyright in a song?
Technically, you own the copyright in a song the moment you write it down or record it, and you immediately have the benefits of that copyright. As a practical matter, to be sure you can protect your copyright you should register it with the U.S. Copyright Office. This makes it easier to prove your ownership of the copyright in the event of infringement, and also enables you to collect more money in the event of winning an infringement suit.
To register a copyright of a song you’ve written, you need to send three things in one envelope or package:
An application form (typed or written in black ink) – PA if you’re registering a song, and SR if you’re registering a sound recording. Note that these Adobe Acrobat forms now have fill-in fields, so you can type all the information in before printing them, a major plus if your typing skills are better than your handwriting.
A registration fee of $30, submitted as a check made out to Register of Copyrights. If you are submitting multiple works in one package, you may write a single check for the total amount.
One copy of the work if it is unpublished, and two copies if it is published. The copies may be either written (scores or lead sheets) or phono records.
If all goes well, you receive a certificate of registration in a few months.
How do you use copyright notices?
Copyright notices were once required on all works, and are still required for any works first published before March 1, 1989. For works first published since that date, a copyright notice is not required to maintain copyright protection for the work, but it remains a Very Good Idea.
If you make sure the copyright notice appears on all copies of your work, then no one who violates your copyright may claim “innocent infringement” in court.
