I have used the "Poor Man's Copyright" system before where you mail yourself some sort of documentation of the songs and never open the package, but I strongly encourage you to copyright your material, Robin. Better safe than sorry. I've been copyrighting my songs since I was 14-years-old, and I just followed the directions on the U.S. Copyright's website, http://www.copyright.gov/. I don't know how the copyright system is in Spain, but it's worked well for me here in the States. Essentially, I've just documented (whether by audio recording or manuscript) my compositions, filled out a form, and sent a $45 payment. The copyright goes into effect the day the office receives it. After a few months, I get a copyright certificate in the mail saying they received my work. If all the writer(s) are the same, you can copyright as many songs as you want to in what they call a "collection" for no additional charges.
It great that you and your band are writing. Have fun with it! It's so fulfilling to be able to create and express yourself that way. Giving your listeners something that comes straight from your heart is a privilege. Eryn Eubanks http://www.eryneubanks.com On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 8:34 AM, OlSausage <[email protected]> wrote: > > Anything you write is automatically copyright to you. If you are > really concerned, write the songs down on paper or make a tape with > some documentation saying you wrote the song and mail it to yourself > and/or someone you can trust. When you get the package leave it sealed > and store it safely. That way if any legal issues crop up you can > easily prove priority. But really as soon as you wrote it, it's your > copyright. > > On Jun 20, 7:14 pm, Robin Gravina <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Taters > > > > me and my buddies have been writing some songs on the train, and we never > > heard them outside our heads until we decided to have a session the other > > day on our own material. We spent two hours learning the songs, figuring > out > > a quick arrangement and recording it and did seven of the 19 we have > > waiting. It's a little embarassing to report, but I was amazed at how > good > > my mate Steve's songs were and he paid me a similar compliment, and we > > realise that we have to record them. Couldn't say what style they are in > > exactly, other than a Brother Duo that had lived on the East Side of > > Manhatten. > > > > Does anyone know how to copyright songs, especially if you do it from > Spain, > > and whether it actually matters if you do or don't? We got all nervous > about > > suddenly making the change from a band that plays other people's songs to > > band that plays mainly our own, and thinking about making a cd, and > whether > > we need to do some of this legal stuff > > > > Un taterabrazo > > Robin > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
