How to Copyright Your Music

The following steps will provide you with the proper steps and information to copyright your music.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Getting Started
   
   In getting started it is important to know that once you create music it is technically copyright protected. All you need is proof that you in fact created it.

2. Mail Your CD to Yourself
   
   One super cheap way that many musicians copyright their music is by mailing their CD's to themselves . The way this works is the musician self addresses their CD in an envelope , mails it , receives it , leaves it unopened , and uses the date on the post mark as proof for when the music was created.
   
   This comes in handy if someone claims they created your song in 2009 but you have an unopened mailing containing the same song post marked in 2008 .

3. Copyrighting Music officially
   
   Copyrights for music are handled by the Library of Congress. You will need to send them the proper application form , required fee , and an audio copy of your music or sheet music to the following address :
   
   Library of Congress
   Copyright Office
   101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
   Washington, DC 20559-6000

4. Resources
   
   Check out my resources section below for more information the music copyrighting process.

Resources

• copyright.gov
• musicbizacademy.com

[skorr8]

on 7/9/2009 Great tips! I never even thought of step 2, that's so much easier than doing it officially. 5*

[adam-12]

on 7/9/2009 Step 2 is ingenious! Thanks for the informative article.

[karileighk]

on 6/30/2009 Making sure your songs are copyrighted is very important. *5