How to Copyright Protect My CD

Protect your CD by copyrighting it.

Copyrighting your CD ensures that you retain all legal rights to it, including the rights to duplicate, distribute and adapt the CD. Copyrighting protects against someone stealing your music and using it for his own profit. To copyright your CD, visit the U.S. Copyright website, fill out the appropriate form (online or printed document) and file them along with your copyright fee and copies of your CD.

Things You'll Need

• 2 copies of your CD

Instructions

Register Your Work Online

1. Browse to copyright.gov and click on the eCO login (preferred copyright method) to create an eCO account.

2. Left-click on "Register a New Claim" once logged in. Follow the step-by-step instructions for filling out and submitting the form.

3. Make an electronic filing fee payment ($35) after you have filled out the online form. This can be done via a credit card or electronic check

4. Send in one complete copy of your CD (for an unpublished work) or two copies of the best edition for published works. This is called a deposit.

Register Using Form CO

1. Browse to copyright.gov and download form CO.

2. Fill out the CO form and print the document. Sign it.

3. Mail your signed CO form, your deposit and a check or money order for your filing fee ($50) to the Library of Congress, Copyright Office, 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20559-6237.

Tips & Warnings

• Filing electronically (through eCO) will save you $15. Ensure that you package your CD(s) in a padded box rather than a regular envelope.

References

• U.S. Copyright Office: Registering Your Work
• U.S. Copyright Office: CO Form
• U.S. Copyright Office: CO Form Instructions