United States

OK, you guys have convinced me; music isn't worth it - I give up.

Huh RM?
Pointless traveling a road if you aren't prepared for trouble true, but its just as wise to know your parameters as well.

OK, you guys have convinced me; music isn't worth it - I give up.

OK, you guys have convinced me; music isn't worth it - I give up.

Ah cmon...you should know that everything involves red tape. You just have to take the best shortcuts that will benefit you.

Now, I never said that getting a Publisher for business/copyright was impossible, it's just that finding one could become a job in itself, but probably not nearly as hard as finding a label(if that's what you're looking for).

I advise you to go hit the library and read the most current Music Business books they have. Try to find one written by an attorney with experience. Read at least two books on the topic and you won't be so frustrated.

Uh, I was saying that tongue-in-cheek; the negativity is sometimes unchecked, here.

Ain't that the truth.
Have a good weekend RM
Best.

Uh, I was saying that tongue-in-cheek; the negativity is sometimes unchecked, here.

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."


Hunter S. Thompson

Long thread, and someone may have already mentioned it, but a work is copyrighted as soon as you put it on paper or record it. The copyright office registers it.

For example, if I were to post a lyric here, it would be copyrighted. The date and time are recorded. Also, titles or ideas can't be copyrighted.

Another thing some don't know, is that you can register a collected works, as many songs as will fit on a CD. Same fee as a single song.

Unless a stolen song winds up on an album that's selling big, there isn't a lot to be gained by suing anyway. Actually, I'd love to hear one of my songs on someones hit album. Let 'em do all the work, and I'll sit back and collect lol.

It's about $42 to copyright correct?

I used to do what they called:Poor Man's Copyright. But, instead of just mailing a package to myself I would go to the Post Office and have them stamp a receipt along with the envelope. Some people say that that isn't an official copyright though. Is this true? I mean, proof is proof isn't it? It's evidence all the same.

In response to a bunch of stuff from a bunch of people:
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>Yes. A work is technically copyrighted as soon as it's published. And - if someone copies it, and submits it for copright - it is now THEIR song - not yours, and the law is on their side.
A copyright from the Library of Congress stands up a whole lot better as proof of date of copyright . . . nothing is better.
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>$35 by internet to copyright a song or a collection of songs.
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>$45 by mail to copyright a song or a collection of songs.
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There is about a 2 year wait. For about $800, you can get a copyright in a month or so.
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>The 'Poor Man's Copyright,' again . . . sigh . . .
That will never stand up in a court of law. If someonce copies your song, and copyrights it in the Library of Congress - it is now THEIR song, not yours.
Good luck proving it's yours - cancellation stamps can be faked, envelopes can be opened (and the contents changed), dates can be changed - The 'Poor Man's Copyright,' is better than nothing - but not if someone else went through the proper channels with the same song . . . If you have to pay an attourney to prove your 'Poor Man's Copyright,' it'll cost you thousands . . .
Cheaper to go through proper channels, my friend, eh? . . . $35.
Of course - if your opponent has NO proof at all, it'll help.
But, otherwise - it's pretty simple to shoot down a 'Poor Man's Copyright' in a court of law . . .
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Now if you want to make a 'Poor Man's Copyright' effective, you can do this:
1) Get it notarized
2) Mail it to your lawyer.
3) Have him date it and lock it in a safe.
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But - What do you want to bet that it'll cost you more than $45 to do that?

You're right. I was thinking about the fact that somebody could easily take out the contents and re-stick everything, or at least accuse the original owner of the possibility of it. Plus, I think the post office charges about half the price of a legit copyright i.e. weight and fee.

Thanks for the tips RM!

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."


Hunter S. Thompson

^^^ This = Awesome!

And, by the way - that $35 or that $45 copyrighted song you want to do?
Get it right the first time, or it'll cost you $100 to change it.

Nah.
Doesn't suit my style frankly. I've been thinking about this a lot of late and what does it matter? Perhaps peeps will write stuff that inspire someone to change the conscripted theme and we all know there is one.

I feel we were all much happier (Those of us that are fortunate enough) to play something and someone say "Yeah I like that!" I think it far more important to have people listen you your stuff. There is NO bigger copyright than the human brain.

I'm going with something else born in a FREE world where people can do with it as they want so long as they provide credit. Give freely, expect nothing and perhaps if you are lucky enough you will get something in return?

And, by the way - that $35 or that $45 copyrighted song you want to do?
Get it right the first time, or it'll cost you $100 to change it.