General Music Chat

Ok a quick response this is what I have been doing for years. A very close and legal friend of mine in Georgia did research on Copyright laws the pros and cons. Big misconception when starting out in writing music, plays,books,etc all forms of copyright protection in art . This is the proverbial sin of thinking too big of having to go through the process of sending in all the paperwork and fee money is a waste of your time, precious money,and energy. This is "the poor man's way of copyrighting your material and it's the fastest way you can acheive your goal.

1:) Take your Original work in YOUR hand writing to the post office
2:) Ask to speak to the Post Master or find the nearest Post Master
3:) Have it notorized there at the USPS (United States Postal Service) Note that this is Usually done by the Post Master themselves That's even better
4:) Have the Post Master put your Material in a Sealed envelope NOW PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION THIS NEXT STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT. When the Post Master seals the envelope make sure he puts his or her seal where you open the envelope. The Post Master Seal should be half on the lip of the envelope and half on the body of the envelope.
5:) Have the envelope Notorised (more protection)
6:) After you have labled the envelope with You address Have the Material now enclosed with by a notorized "FEDERALLY SEALED" envelope by "A FEDERAL LEGAL COURT OFFICER" (The Post Master) Mail that envelope containing your material to yourself. THIS IS ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT SO PAY ATTENTION. SEND THAT ENVELOPE TO YOURSELF
BY REGISTERED MAIL AND MAKE SURE A SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED UPON DELIVERY OF THE ENVELOPE.
7:) When you recieve the envelope at YOUR home file it and forget about it.

Note: Somewhere on the envelope write what song or piece of art is in the envelope. Then if you find someone usuing your material and you take them to court bring that envelope with you to court.
Keep in mind NEVER to open the envelope for any reason the next paragraph will explain why.
When you go to court you let the Judge open that federal seal and hint a local Judge cannot do it .It takes a Superior Court or Federal Court JUdge to open that seal without your permission. So if its the state or county judge you can ask for a higher court immediately.
Usually Before the Judge opens the envelope he will Summons the Post Master to verify their Seal (All Post Masters Have Different seals depending on state, county,city or postal code) When the Judge opens the letter be sure he reads the date on the POSTAL SEAL and the Dates on the Registered Mail Delivery Notice.
With the Dates in hand and with a federal seal is a 99 percent victory for you.

This is very similar to the way we do things in England. Of course it states on some web sites that this is a waste of time since forgeries are good but I do like your comment when you say.

This is the proverbial sin of thinking too big of having to go through the process of sending in all the paperwork and fee money is a waste of your time, precious money,and energy.

Recently I tried searching for courts in process of suing artists but of course search engines are only there to sell these days so my search ended in finding very little.

Interesting post.
Thanks.

Chippy

Ok a quick response this is what I have been doing for years. A very close and legal friend of mine in Georgia did research on Copyright laws the pros and cons. Big misconception when starting out in writing music, plays,books,etc all forms of copyright protection in art . This is the proverbial sin of thinking too big of having to go through the process of sending in all the paperwork and fee money is a waste of your time, precious money,and energy. This is "the poor man's way of copyrighting your material and it's the fastest way you can acheive your goal.

1:) Take your Original work in YOUR hand writing to the post office
2:) Ask to speak to the Post Master or find the nearest Post Master
3:) Have it notorized there at the USPS (United States Postal Service) Note that this is Usually done by the Post Master themselves That's even better
4:) Have the Post Master put your Material in a Sealed envelope NOW PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION THIS NEXT STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT. When the Post Master seals the envelope make sure he puts his or her seal where you open the envelope. The Post Master Seal should be half on the lip of the envelope and half on the body of the envelope.
5:) Have the envelope Notorised (more protection)
6:) After you have labled the envelope with You address Have the Material now enclosed with by a notorized "FEDERALLY SEALED" envelope by "A FEDERAL LEGAL COURT OFFICER" (The Post Master) Mail that envelope containing your material to yourself. THIS IS ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT SO PAY ATTENTION. SEND THAT ENVELOPE TO YOURSELF
BY REGISTERED MAIL AND MAKE SURE A SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED UPON DELIVERY OF THE ENVELOPE.
7:) When you recieve the envelope at YOUR home file it and forget about it.

Note: Somewhere on the envelope write what song or piece of art is in the envelope. Then if you find someone usuing your material and you take them to court bring that envelope with you to court.
Keep in mind NEVER to open the envelope for any reason the next paragraph will explain why.
When you go to court you let the Judge open that federal seal and hint a local Judge cannot do it .It takes a Superior Court or Federal Court JUdge to open that seal without your permission. So if its the state or county judge you can ask for a higher court immediately.
Usually Before the Judge opens the envelope he will Summons the Post Master to verify their Seal (All Post Masters Have Different seals depending on state, county,city or postal code) When the Judge opens the letter be sure he reads the date on the POSTAL SEAL and the Dates on the Registered Mail Delivery Notice.
With the Dates in hand and with a federal seal is a 99 percent victory for you.

Once you write something it is indeed copyrighted,,, There is a method that protects your copyright. I don't recall the exact steps but it is something like this. Take the original and date it. Then put it in an envelope then eal it. There is more but I do not recall what it is. I will look into it again.

That 'poor man's copyright' is a fallacy.
We've talked about it a dozen times. it will not hold up in a court of law.
A copyright from the United State's Library of Congress is the saftest way to go.

The poor man's copyright used to work until the Library of Congress figured out that they weren't making any money off of it. I don't know why it wouldn't work if you've got a sealed envelope with a dated government seal on it.

Because (believe it or not) an old envelope can be opened, and new stuff can be inserted.
Look, this subject is not in the area of 'theory.'
Argue if you want: I won't; no time.
.
If you want another alternative; get your song in sealed notarized envelope. Give it to a lawyer, and have him put it in a safe-deposit box, unopened.
That's as good as the Library of Congress.
Just see if it's cheaper than $35 - $45.

Hey RhythmMan.

I know your right I'm just testing waters. When I was 17 I brought a song into work for my workmates to listen to.

Some months later one of them was convinced that my song was being played on Top of the Pops
It wasn't of course that was many years ago now and the Internet was not around, simply impossible shortly put.

Thanks for the advice. Sometimes I need to gauge my depth and how far I intend to go. No I know.

Thanks muchlee

Chippy

Because (believe it or not) an old envelope can be opened, and new stuff can be inserted.
Look, this subject is not in the area of 'theory.'
Argue if you want: I won't; no time.
.
If you want another alternative; get your song in sealed notarized envelope. Give it to a lawyer, and have him put it in a safe-deposit box, unopened.
That's as good as the Library of Congress.
Just see if it's cheaper than $35 - $45.

Just go down to your local courthouse and get music and or lyrics notorized, then send material to yourself, with your return address on it, when your mail comes back to you, do not open it, but instead file it in a safety deposit box somewhere. This is known as a 'poorboy' copy write and will stand up in any court just as legal as the expensive copywrites or the ones you have to wait and wait on.

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmm
. . . I give up.

Oh the tangled webs we weave.

Please steal my song, put it in front of the whole world to hear, make a bazillion dollars off of it.
If it reaches one soul, just one, it would be worth more than gold in my pockets.

And yes, the old Adam in me would still be PISSED.

I know full well this does not apply to most of you guys, but you know I have to butt in.

Nah Rhythm is right.

You cannot make the rules but you do have to abide with them if you have just one penneth of hope in securing a dream.

Cheers.

Chippy

Ok I have another question on this that might not be so easy to answer? Suppose I apply for a copyright and then change a small part of the tune/saga/vocal whatever...

Is this then like taking a screw out of a guaranteed washing machine only to find you've voided that guarantee?

Thanks.
Chippy.

Is this then like screwing a guaranteed washing machine only to find you've voided that guarantee?

Ok I have another question on this that might not be so easy to answer? Suppose I apply for a copyright and then change a small part of the tune/saga/vocal whatever...

Is this then like taking a screw out of a guaranteed washing machine only to find you've voided that guarantee?

Thanks.
Chippy.

No, it wouldn't void the copyright, but the new changes wouldn't be part of the original copyright. More like tearing the tag off of a pillow. It's yours, you can do what you want with it, but you can't exchange it anymore.

Ah ok Rat thanks.
Now then this bit confuses me sorry....

but you can't exchange it anymore.