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 Register Your Songs
With the Copyright Office
by Christopher Knab ,
August 2011
Back to The Academy
When you write a song and "fix" it "in a tangible form", i.e. write it
down somewhere or record it even in a simple way, your song is at that
moment-protected by U.S. copyright laws.
But... PROVING that the song is yours requires another step... REGISTERING the song with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Doing
that offers you not just more protection but more proof that the song
is yours if you ever have to go to court to sue someone you believe
stole your song.
I never cease to be amazed how few artists are
willing to spend $40 to register their songs. (even though they brag how
'great' that song may be!).
By the way, these folks are often the same folks who complain about not getting paid to perform their unknown music.
All
I know is that when an inventor comes up with some new product that
they think will appeal to a certain type of customer, the first thing
they do is file for a patent on their invention. The same reaction to
protecting songs by registering them should be there for any serious
songwriter.
If you really intend to work hard and develop your
career as a musician who writes your own songs, don’t wait too long to
take care of this simple, but essential task.
Do it now!
Go to http://www.copyright.gov and get started!
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Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington. He
is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music, and can be reached by email at: chris@chrisknab.net
Chris Knab's book, 'Music Is Your Business'
is available from the Music Biz Academy bookstore.
Visit the FourFront Media and
Music website for more information on the business of music from
Christopher Knab.
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