Copyrighting music
Discussion
Hi all - hope this is the right forum for this.
Ive written apiece of music and want to copyright it. https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/articles/... it says 'Write down a copy of your musical work on paper or store it as an audio recording. Place it within an envelope that’s signed with your name across the seal of the envelope. Post it to yourself by registered post – the time stamp from the post will be vital in the event of copyright dispute. It’s equally important that you DO NOT open the envelope on receipt but store it in a safe place until such time that you need it as part of any legal proceedings.'
That seems simple enough and I plan to send two copies off tomorrow but I wondered if should include a covering letter offically claiming copyright or something like that. Thanks for any advice.
Ive written apiece of music and want to copyright it. https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/articles/... it says 'Write down a copy of your musical work on paper or store it as an audio recording. Place it within an envelope that’s signed with your name across the seal of the envelope. Post it to yourself by registered post – the time stamp from the post will be vital in the event of copyright dispute. It’s equally important that you DO NOT open the envelope on receipt but store it in a safe place until such time that you need it as part of any legal proceedings.'
That seems simple enough and I plan to send two copies off tomorrow but I wondered if should include a covering letter offically claiming copyright or something like that. Thanks for any advice.
Thanks Mitch. I dont like sending important stuff to, well, nobody knows where exactly. Servers fail, companies go bust, websites break or disappear completely because money wasn't paid. When and if the cloud breaks or the Russians take it over, you'll still have the paper safely stored as backup 
Eric Mc said:
Is there a formal procedure for this? I always assumed that once you wrote something, you automatically possessed copywright.
Thats right, you do, the issue is proving it in the case of somebody nicking it. I was going to do the letter separately then thought it would be more 'proveworthy' if it was printed on the back of the sheet of music. How does this look?To whom it may concern.
This letter dated 8 August 2019 and signed by me spangle 82 of the above address proves that I own and have all rights to the piece of music printed overleaf entitled ('name')
Yours sincerely,
Signed:
Printed:
Date:
Eric and Stevie, you have touched on an interesting point - two people independently thinking of the same thing at roughly the same time.
As you say if its not 'published' then another person could honestly claim he had no idea he was infringing copyright. But then, if I invented something and used it/made money from it, and later someone came up to me and said 'You can't use that or make money from it because it is my invention and here is proof that I invented it X years ago' - surely I'd have to stop, or pay damages if Id made money from it in the meantime...
So publishing is a big criterion in proving copyright and the benefits that come from it. Commercial music is not a world I know much about, would I just ask a publishing company if they would like to to include my work in their next book of music? Or perhaps self-publishing - either in print or online - would get the work in the public domain and therefore more 'provable'. Maybe my local music shop would like to sell it?!
As you say if its not 'published' then another person could honestly claim he had no idea he was infringing copyright. But then, if I invented something and used it/made money from it, and later someone came up to me and said 'You can't use that or make money from it because it is my invention and here is proof that I invented it X years ago' - surely I'd have to stop, or pay damages if Id made money from it in the meantime...
So publishing is a big criterion in proving copyright and the benefits that come from it. Commercial music is not a world I know much about, would I just ask a publishing company if they would like to to include my work in their next book of music? Or perhaps self-publishing - either in print or online - would get the work in the public domain and therefore more 'provable'. Maybe my local music shop would like to sell it?!
StevieBee said:
From what I know (my friend is a published songwriter), for a songwriter, a publisher is of more use than an agent. But you'll only get a publisher if there was genuine desire to see your music sell (I sense from your post that you really just want to keep this for something later). Self publishing is possible - get something produced and then stick out there (iTunes, etc). You need to register your piece with the Performing Rights Society who'll issue a number. I think you need to do this via a company which you can set up yourself - even if it's just as a sole trader. Once you have the number, the music is then 'published'.
I'm catching up with my songwriter friend at the weekend so will ask if he has any other advice.
That would be great, thank you!I'm catching up with my songwriter friend at the weekend so will ask if he has any other advice.
I never intended to write a piece of music, one day a phrase emerged, then the next day another, then another until over a few days it became a standalone piece. It just works. I have no plans to make money from it myself, but I dont want anyone to steal it and if I hear it in a TV series or film next year without being able to say 'Oi, send money!' I'll be very annoyed. Happy to get a number from PRS - that seems to constitute 'published' so given what was said before, that must automatically put it in the public domain?
As a famous example, the sheet music for Moonlight Serenade on my desk says at the bottom: '(C) 1939 (Renewed 1967) EMI ROBBINS CATALOG INC. All Rights Controlled by EMI ROBBINS INC. (Publishing) and WARNER BROS. PUBLICATIONS US INC (Print). All Rights Reserved'. I presume that does the trick, though what paperwork in a vault backs it up I don't know. I'm surprised the Miller estate doesn't own it. I guess if you own music that famous you dont need a PRS number!
Thanks again Steve!
Just a copy/paste reply, not much use I think...
'Thank you for having contacted us.
Your question refers to copyright. Our role in the field of copyright consists in assisting governments in developing IP laws and standards and in providing a discussion forum for our Member States.
We are not in the position to provide private legal advice to individuals with regard to their case. We therefore suggest you consult a practicing lawyer for assistance. You may find a list of specialized lawyers on the web site of your National Copyright Office.
However, the following information may be helpful to you:
According to the Berne Convention, copyright protection is granted to works automatically from the moment of their creation or fixation and does not depend on any formalities or registration in the 177 countries party to that Convention. Thus, WIPO does not offer any kind of copyright registration service.
The world wide registration is not possible as it is does not exists
At the same time, as copyright protection falls under national legislation, some countries provide for a voluntary registration of copyright, which in particular serves as prima facie evidence in a court of law with reference to disputes relating to copyright.
You may wish to visit our WIPO Lex facility for information on law currently in force in a given country or contact the National Copyright Office of your country for assistance.
Additional resources include:
FAQs on Copyright
Case studies for individuals and SMEs as copyright owners and users
WIPO booklets "Understanding Copyright and Related Rights" and “Basic notions of Copyright and Related Rights”
We hope this is helpful. Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards'
'Thank you for having contacted us.
Your question refers to copyright. Our role in the field of copyright consists in assisting governments in developing IP laws and standards and in providing a discussion forum for our Member States.
We are not in the position to provide private legal advice to individuals with regard to their case. We therefore suggest you consult a practicing lawyer for assistance. You may find a list of specialized lawyers on the web site of your National Copyright Office.
However, the following information may be helpful to you:
According to the Berne Convention, copyright protection is granted to works automatically from the moment of their creation or fixation and does not depend on any formalities or registration in the 177 countries party to that Convention. Thus, WIPO does not offer any kind of copyright registration service.
The world wide registration is not possible as it is does not exists
At the same time, as copyright protection falls under national legislation, some countries provide for a voluntary registration of copyright, which in particular serves as prima facie evidence in a court of law with reference to disputes relating to copyright.
You may wish to visit our WIPO Lex facility for information on law currently in force in a given country or contact the National Copyright Office of your country for assistance.
Additional resources include:
FAQs on Copyright
Case studies for individuals and SMEs as copyright owners and users
WIPO booklets "Understanding Copyright and Related Rights" and “Basic notions of Copyright and Related Rights”
We hope this is helpful. Thank you for your understanding.
Best regards'
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