How to Copyright a Song With the Library of Congress
In the United Sates, copyright is secured when a song or other creative work is fixed in a tangible form of expression: that is, when the work is created. There are legal advantages to registering a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office, however, and published works need to be deposited with the Library of Congress. The steps are neither difficult nor expensive.
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Instructions
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Register a copyright online at the Electronic Copyright Office or eCO. As of 2010, online registration carries the lowest filing fee, $35, and has the fastest processing time. You can also register with a fill-in PDF-formatted Form CO that you print out on your computer and mail in with a check for $50, but be sure the form's bar code prints clearly without smudges. Paper forms are still accepted, but must be requested from the Copyright Office, and will be sent by mail. For paper forms, Copyright Form PA is used for lyrics and sheet music, and Form SR for sound recordings. A single copyright holder for both the song and the recording of its performance need only file Form SR. The fee for paper forms is $65.
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File your copyright claim for a single song, multiple unpublished songs by the same author, or a recording of multiple songs first published together in an album.
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Submit to the Library of Congress one complete copy or "phonorecord," the legal term for any recording, for unpublished work. For published songs, submit two copies of the "best edition." You can submit electronic versions with your application or a hard copy, though the "best edition" requirement for published work may mean sending in a CD if that's how the songs were released. When filing a registration through the eCO, the Copyright Office requires you to print out the shipping slip you receive in the registration process, and include it with your hard-copy deposit. The shipping slip is unique to your claim.
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References
- Photo Credit wooden string guitar over the musical notes image by Elnur from Fotolia.com
Comments
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Lately I have been uploading my songs to YouTube, because I have been unable to record them to disk lately. Are the videos of my songs appropriate for copyright acceptance? And, if so, how exactly is this done?
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Just read this and not clear on how to send my songs. Do you except MP-3 files if I'm submitting songs via internet? Hope to have this question answered. In the past I have mailed my music and Copywrite applications through the mail. It took two years to get it processed. Three months and less cost sounds better and more effecient. But not clear on this process based on the instructions offered. I compse about 12 songs a year on a ggod yesr about 20. Can't keep up with copywrite registration.
