Music Copyright Protected

By Jack Wogan


For great things to be created, it takes a lot of effort and time. Moreover, if the public enjoys this product, then its author must be appreciated for and also receive the necessary compensation. This is the reason why the copyright appeared. It offers the one who gave birth to something to protect it legally and also to set a time limit of how long should this protection last. Copyright is the guarantee that you are the only one with full rights over your innovation. If you made a song, nobody would be allowed to play it, to share it or to receive financial compensation for it in your place.

There are circumstances when other may use your fabrication, even if you had it copyrighted. These situations include research, criticism and report purposes. There are also times when you need to show that your music is copyrighted. The best way to do it is to provide such notice on the music sheet or on the case that wraps the product. Make sure to also write your name and the date on the sheet.

If you engaged yourself in the process of copyrighting your music, then you should go all the way. This usually implies taking complementary measures to keep your creation safe. For this, it is necessary to register the copyright. Having these done, no one will ever be able to claim rights or to state that the product is actually his. Another recommendation would be to first obtain these official documents to attest your ownership and then to record the music. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Some people have tried to make things a lot easier, or at least they thought they have. They opted for the "poor man's copyright". The steps required for this procedure were to put the tape or the CD with the music registered on them into an envelope and to have it sent to their home through registered mail. They had to make sure they wouldn't open the envelope. This way, the wrapping would have the date of the day it was released from the Post Office. This process surely takes less time than to have the music copyrighted and registered, but in the court of law, it cannot stand for real evidence.

You should also take some precaution measures in case you have a band. If the musical composition was created by all the members, then it belongs to all of them. But if it was generate only by you, then make sure you have the full rights over it. Otherwise, the others may use it in the future.




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