Mystery Writers Forum
The Business of Writing => Laws about Writing => Topic started by: Zara on May 01, 2007, 10:29:43 PM
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Hey everyone,
Haven't posted in ages, and here I come with a question that has nothing to do with mystery but which is a mystery to my limited knowledge. ;)
A friend of mine asked me to write a song for him. (He's a singer) I've finished the thing but have no idea how to handle things. Do I need to copyright it before I hand it over or arecomputer tracking and mail exchange proof enough that I wrote the song?
I don't know if it's any good, but hey, if it does hit the charts why tempt fate...
Thanks for any advice
Take care everyone
Zara
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Hi Zara,
Good to hear from you. In the US there are two different ways to go. All creative output (writing, art, music) is automatically copyrighted, though making sure you put copyright by and your name on any copies that you give out is a very good idea. The other way is to actually go through the copyright process with the federal gov.
http://www.copyright.gov/
This copyright registration process makes it possible to be awarded a cash settlement if you go to court. Without it you are much less likely to get a settlement beyond a 'cease and desist' order.
Registration of your piece with an organization like ASCAP (US) will enable you to get licensing fees when someone wants to use your piece. You do have to be a member.
Here's a starting place for that - US and elsewhere:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCAP
Good luck - hope you go Gold,
Elena
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Hey Elena, thanks!
France is one of the countries who signed the Bern convention by which most countries have a deal where as soon as your song, music or lyrics are written down in a tangiable form -then they are already copyrighted. You don't need to do anything.
This friend of mine does it for the Darfour cause, he's a small time unknown singer, I don't even know if he'll get paid for it... But I'll have to coyright it anyway. Who knows ;)
Once again, thank you ,
Zara
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Hey Zara
I hadn't heard about the Bern Convention - very useful to know.
However since I'm a kind of belt and braces kind of girl I also suggest this cheap and cheerful way of getting an official date associated with what ever you have written. Send a copy of the song to yourself Registered Post. Make sure that the post office puts the registered post sticker over the envelope's seal. When it arrives and you have signed for it DO NOT OPEN IT the date stamp and the seal is proof that whatever you have created has been created before the date on the stamp. I have used this many times for TV Programme ideas and other little bits and pieces. Indeed most impoverished musicians and writers use it as a way of copywriting their material, and it is recognised officially as a way of getting stuff copywrited without involving lawyers and their fees.
Hope this gives you some food for thought
Cheers
Michele
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Yaiyaee, Michèle! Women died to get us out of those braces ;D (Sorry couldn't resist.) Thanks for the tip.
Just in case it would come of use, here is another web site about copyright : http://www.copyrightauthority.com
Take care
Zara
PS : Okay, I've been unfaithful to MWF lately but is that a reason to hide the spell check?
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Zara,
Visit http://www.robinfrederick.com/write.html
For copyright info from the horse's mouth visit
www.loc.gov
Donload then read circular 92
Leon