Can you copyright an original song, just by singing into a tape recorder without other musical instruments?

Question

I am a songwriter, but I don't play any musical instruments, such as guitar, keyboards, etc. My only musical instrument is my singing voice. When I write a song I sing into a tape recorder with the words and music together. I was wondering for that matter, if I can have my songs copyrighted that way by singing into a tape recorder without other musical instruments and sending it to the copyright office or by other means, so I can protect my music, before I sing it in public.

Answer 1

No. Copyright is a "registration thing". Therefore to "copyright" something, it would have to be registered with "the copyright people" Whomever They are.
But, If you were to mail or courier a copy of the recording with printed lyrics, to yourself. and leave it unopened, you would be able to show when you "Had" it.

Answer 2

Yes, so long as the work is in fixed form, you have copyright.

Let me be clear, because there is a lot of misinformation, even in the answers above: You do not need to register your work to gain copyright protection. Your work has copyright by being an original work in some fixed form. There are some advantages to registering for copyright, but you no longer need to do so in order to "gain copyright."

My strong suggestion is to not just sing into a tape recorder, but write the song down. Then register both the sound recording and the printed song.

Look over the FAQs at the Copyright Office. They are well written and really will help you out.

Answer 3

Yes. Copyright involves an original work and fixation in a tangible medium. The tape recording gives you the second of the requirements. I'm guessing that you're supplying the former.

For more protection, you can also register a copy of the recording with the copyright office. Registration isn't required, though, unless you plan on suing for infringement. Registration does give you benefits, though, such as a presumptive proof of authorship, a date of registration, etc.

You have a copyright in that original composition. You have a second copyright in your taped performance. If protection is very important, you should find someone to transpose the music to sheet music for you, and register that along with the words, also, separately from the taped performance.

I also agree with PermDude...there's a lot of misinformation about copyrights. (Aside from his and mine.)

Answer 4

LOL at Carlos. Eventually you will need to apply for a true copyright, if you ever get around to wanting to make money off of it.

You can, in the meantime, record a song without a tape & mail it to yourself as a datestamped proof of it's originality. You will always want to keep that postmarked and sealed/dont open it up when you get it back in the mail, so that you have proof if it would ever come down to a matter of somebody else contesting you that they wrote the song before you.

You can also send tapes or cds to the copyright office, when it gets to the point you want to copywright an album of songs for professional/sales purposes.

Answer 5

The US Copyright Office would likely consider that a Sound Recording Work.

To register -- you can do this at the US Copyright Office – see the last 2 links in the source box. The application is fairly simple & the cost is $30 per application (it will likely rise to $45 on July 1).

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 6

76 Trombones (from the musical The track guy) Silver Bells diverse Drum on an identical time as my Guitar gently weeps Piano guy The Little Drummer Boy venture Bell Jingle Bells Carol of the bells i admire a Piano

Answer 7

i think the poem of song have copyright and if you have permission to sing it you can do that.

Answer 8

Probably, it's all a matter if you are actually making money out of it, or if you are singing it in tv, or radio. but usually if you make money out of it then you owe money.

Answer 9

Yes.

Answer 10

Id say certainly as long as you arent selling it to anyone