Intellectual Property

Recently I attended a songwriters' meetup in Denver. I was interested to discuss protection of intellectual property. We had a short discussion, but I left with more questions.

Are there any affordable ways that an amateur songwriter protect their work? This is a hobby, so I'm not profiting from my songs. Moreover, I want to share my music, but I don't want anybody else to take credit for it, or to profit from it.

One of the meetup participants mentioned some forms that can be submitted to the copyright office, or maybe the Library of Congress. But he was short on details, and we didn't have a lot of time to explore this topic. 

Someone else suggested that by uploading recordings of your songs to Spotify or YouTube, you have a timestamped record that you were first.  

A few days later, a stranger overheard me talking with a friend and an eavesdropping stranger chimed in that you can mail yourself a CD of your music, and leave it sealed. That way the postmark confirms the date, providing evidence should it ever go to litigation. She also reminded me that websites disappear and digital content can be deleted, leaving YouTube or Spotify as less reliable long-term methods of claiming ownership and authorship.

Well, this morning I officially submitted my first batch of original songs to the U.S. Copyright Office.

It took less than 45 minutes, and only cost me $85.

The website is: www.copyright.gov/registration/

Scroll down to enter the "Registration Portal"

New users need to register an account. 

From there, you'll decide what it is you're submitting.

If you are only copyrighting your music (chords, sheet music, lyrics, etc.) then submit it as a "Work of the Performing Arts."

If you are also copyrighting a sound recording (with or without the music/lyrics), then submit it as a "Sound Recording."

Since I am not yet producing any studio-quality work, I chose to copyright the music, but not my kitchen recordings.

You'll enter the title of each song - up to ten per batch.

Once all the forms are completed, you pay the $85 application fee and then upload your files.

The website has plenty of instructions and helpful videos. It was pretty straightforward.

I'm told it could take many months to hear back, but now I have the peace of mind that my original work has been claimed and will be protected.