Can I say "Copyright 2006 James and Hope Gallagher?"?

Question

Or can only one person be listed in the copyright staement? (Should I just put one of us?)

Answer 1

Of course you can. Many great works of entertainment have been created by partnerships, teams, couples, siblings, etc. Its better to use your names than a company or corp. that doesn't legally exist yet.

Answer 2

Absolutely. You may have to list your full names separately instead of as you have above.

If it's a song, you want form PA: "for published and unpublished works of the performing arts (musical and dramatic works, pantomimes and choreographic works, motion pictures and other audiovisual works)."


At the bottom of your work, you include your signature(s), the date your work was completed, and the copyright symbol. You can actually do that now. You hold the copyright for your work. It's not that you have to buy the copyright, but that you have to pay to have it registered.

You may also put a signed copy in an envelope and mail it to yourself. When you get it in the mail - don't open it - just put it in your safe or a file. If there is ever a question of ownership, you have your work sealed in the envelope with the postmark to verify the date. You'd let the judge open it to verify. That's what the BMI rep told me in the 80's.

I still registered my copyright. ;o)

Never send your work out without the copyright, whether you have it registered or not. If the signature, date of completion and copyright symbol are not included, people are free to copy your work without reimbursing you - or crediting you as author.

Answer 3

yes, you can put the copyright in that way. The person who answered you are breaking the law has obviously never filed a copyright.

Answer 4

You are breaking the law.