[ryanxxxx]

Originally Posted by Danny

You'll probably be able to find a program that will print out sheet music for you. Unfortunately, the only one I know of is PowerTab, but that's only for guitar tabalature. You might try a Google search, or just ask around.

!!! if you want to make and/or right sheet music you could get sibelius3
its really good but really expensive i dont have it but my freind does

[Old Self New]

Originally Posted by Nate

You can send them all together as a "compilation" and pay just one fee for the whole compilation. There are a few guidelines for registering compilations, and I don't remember all of them off the top of my head... I think a few of them are as follows:

1) The songs in the compilation must not be part of another compilation.

2) The compilation itself must have a name.

3) All the parts of the compilation must be fixed in ONE copy (i.e. on one CD, not spread across two or three CDs... or in one songbook, not spread across a bunch of songbooks and lead sheets).

Hope this helps!

I think the copyright website gives further information regarding the registration of compilations.

In His love,
Nate

My first post, and I'd like to point out that a copyright existed the minute your wrote the material. All the Library of Congress offers you is a definitive and verifiable 3rd party record of your copyright. In a copyright suit, though, you would still have to defend what you represented to the LOC as your property. You would also have to defend your source influence if one of the big boys (ascap, bmi) went after you to defend your copyright. And pray that happens! Then maybe someone withe some muscle will read your material!
In His Grip.
David

[Nate]

Originally Posted by Old Self New

My first post, and I'd like to point out that a copyright existed the minute your wrote the material. All the Library of Congress offers you is a definitive and verifiable 3rd party record of your copyright.

I know all this.

In a copyright suit, though, you would still have to defend what you represented to the LOC as your property.

A copyright registration certificate serves as prima facie evidence for your ownership of the work which you registered. As long as you are the first one to register the work (no one can register it afterwards), the law says that you own it unless someone else can prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on them, not you.

You would also have to defend your source influence if one of the big boys (ascap, bmi) went after you to defend your copyright. And pray that happens!

It is highly unlikely that any performing rights organization (such as ASCAP or BMI) would find reason to sue for copyright infringement.

In His love,
Nate

[j-trac]

Okay, I understand the basic principles to copyrighting a compilation of songs, but I am wondering how to approach listing each song within that compilation on an SR form(?) I don't quite understand and if someone could help explain this to me, I would appreciate it greatly. Thanks.

ur bro in Christ,

"j"

[Nate]

Originally Posted by j-trac

Okay, I understand the basic principles to copyrighting a compilation of songs, but I am wondering how to approach listing each song within that compilation on an SR form(?) I don't quite understand and if someone could help explain this to me, I would appreciate it greatly. Thanks.

ur bro in Christ,

"j"

Have you completely read through the Form SR w/ instructions? Are you aware of the Continuation Form?

Let me put up an image of the relevant parts of the form so that I can walk you through it... hold on.



Ok. In Space 1, where it says "title of this work" put whatever the title of your compilation is. Then, under that, where it says "previous, alternative, or contents titles" circle "contents" and either a) write in the titles of all the songs in the compilation, or b) write "see continuation sheet." If you choose to list them on the continuation sheet, go to the second page of the continuation sheet where it says "Continuation of..." [see below] and select "Space 1," then write something like "contents of *insert compilation title*:" and list the titles of all the songs in the compilation.



If all of the songs are written solely by you, then in Space 2a of Form SR, fill in your name and personal info, and where it says "nature of authorship" enter "all sound recordings, all underlying compositions, including all words and all music." (you must be sure to specify that your authorship includes the sound recording and the underlying composition, or you only obtain copyright registration status for the sound recording itself.

If some of the songs were co-written, list all relevant authors and specify what each author wrote. For example: "Your Name. Nature of authorship: Sound recordings of *insert relevant song titles*, underlying compositions of *insert relevant song titles*. Their Name. Nature of authorship: Sound recordings of *insert relevant song titles*, underlying compositions of *insert relevant song titles*."

Make sure that you circle "compilation" under Space 6 of Form SR [see below], and then in Space 6b, write in the nature of the compilation. It should read something like "compilation of such-and-such amount of Your Name's sound recordings and underlying compositions, including the works *list individual song titles here*."



That should be it. Hope that helps. If anything was unclear, feel free to ask.

In His love,
Nate

[j-trac]

Thanks for taking time to load those images and explaining it for me, Nate. Many props for the assistance.

"j"

[banjoforester]

I play in a band where we all work together to write the music and lyrics. Is it possible for us to register songs with all of us as the aurtor, or must just one of us be considered the aurthor and have the rights to the songs?

[Nate]

Originally Posted by banjoforester

I play in a band where we all work together to write the music and lyrics. Is it possible for us to register songs with all of us as the aurtor, or must just one of us be considered the aurthor and have the rights to the songs?

All of you should be considered authors, and you should indicate on the copyright registration forms what each of you contributed to each song.

[LC7rock]

So... technically if I wrote down the tab to my own song... than it's already copyrighted? If so than I have a ton of songs. The other way to copyright it is to record it and copyright it when you make the recording (it's just a little bit of info on the file).

[Nate]

Originally Posted by LC7rock

So... technically if I wrote down the tab to my own song... than it's already copyrighted? If so than I have a ton of songs. The other way to copyright it is to record it and copyright it when you make the recording (it's just a little bit of info on the file).

Anything that "fixes" an original creative work in a "tangible medium of expression" from which it can be "reproduced" secures the "copyright" for that work at that exact instant. If you write down the tab, punch it in braille, type it into a file, record it on a tape, accidentally videotape yourself performing it, or make anything other than a mental note of the music, it's copyrighted.

[LefseRae]

Originally Posted by *Erika* or Unknown Dreamer

I'm sorry but I couldn't resist. Great job on all the explaining, but I have an easy and free way of doing it. You go to poetry.com and you add a poem to their database. The moment it is submitted to their website, they automatically internationally copyright it in your name. So if you put song lyrics on there today/tonight/whatever, it's already copyrighted in your name, and you can PROVE it! I've got a few bits on there, but really, it's free. And easy. And like...in your name. How cool is that?

This is slightly off-topic, but I have been doing research on Poetry.com (AKA International Library of Poetry, or some such nonsense) and it's not very reputable. If you are SERIOUS about writing, you need to stay away from it. It's a deceitful vanity press.

[TunerSteve]

A song I wrote recently has been selected to get some airplay next spring on a local station, but first I need to secure a registered copyright.

I searched the .gov site, and got a little confused about the eCo feature. (I understand they are phasing out the normal SR forms.) My finances are not very flush these days, so I would like to include about 7-10 songs in a collective copyright to save some fees.

Has anyone submitted a collection of songs for copyright using eCo? Does the electronic feature allow for such large files to be deposited, utilizing a 1.5 Mbps transfer? Do you make ONE large file, or submit each file as a separate part of the collection?

I would sure appreciate any advice you could share with me!

Thanks,
Steve

[TunerSteve]

Originally Posted by TunerSteve

A song I wrote recently has been selected to get some airplay next spring on a local station, but first I need to secure a registered copyright.

I searched the .gov site, and got a little confused about the eCo feature. (I understand they are phasing out the normal SR forms.) My finances are not very flush these days, so I would like to include about 7-10 songs in a collective copyright to save some fees.

Has anyone submitted a collection of songs for copyright using eCo? Does the electronic feature allow for such large files to be deposited, utilizing a 1.5 Mbps transfer? Do you make ONE large file, or submit each file as a separate part of the collection?

I would sure appreciate any advice you could share with me!

Thanks,
Steve

Quoting myself just to add; I was able to utlilze the eCO to upload 10 songs for copyright. I only have a basic high-speed connection so it took nearly 20 minutes to upload, and the copyright office limits uploads to one hour maximum. It is my understanding it could take 4 months to receive the actual paperwork on the copyright. The cost was $35 for one collection, so I saved quite a bit by using a collective copyright.

Just wanted to add this information for anyone else that was wondering.

Steve