How to Copyright a Music Beat

Producing music beats is hard work. You will spend countless hours finding the sample to go with that perfect kick drum sound and the bass line you've been slaving over. There are so many elements to consider while actually creating your beats. Unfortunately, what too many beginning producers fail to consider is how to protect the music that they've created.

Things You'll Need

• Phone
• Internet Connection
• Library of Congress Copyright Application

Instructions

1. Ensure everything you have used in your music belongs to you. The last thing you want to do is plagiarize someone's work willfully or inadvertently.

2. Understand what a copyright is. Under United States law, a copyright protects you, the producer, from having your music reproduced in any way without your expressed permission.

3. You will need to register your music with the Library of Congress to prove that what you are submitting for copyright does in fact, belong to you. If you don't take the necessary precautions before applying for a copyright, you could forfeit some very essential ownership rights that come with a government backed copyright.

4. There are different ways to obtain a copyright application. Either request an application by calling the Library of Congress at [phone] or download the application in a PDF format from Copyright.gov. Then air mail the application, a check for $45 and a CD of your recorded materials to:

   Library of Congress
   101 Independence Ave SE
   Washington, DC 20559-6000

Tips & Warnings

• -Fill out the application entirely. Any omitted information could result in a rejection of your application.

• -Take into account that the average copyright application takes 5 to 6 months to process.

References

• Musicpowers.com: Copyrights
• Copyright.gov: Copyright Registration of Music
• Musicbizacademy.com: How to Copyright