how do you get stuff copyrited?

Question

i have a few songs i wrote whell only lyrics can you get that copyrited? and i am only 14 is there an age limit

Answer 1

its a lot more work than what frenchie said

Answer 2

Poor man's copyright. The idea is place your printed lyrics into an envelope and mail to yourself. The sealed envelope then serves as proof (via the US Mail time stamp). Until you can garner some cash to pay for a copyright, this is the best workaround and it is legally binding. That said, a copyright is only as good as the institution policing it. You can have this copyright, but who has the muscle to enforce that you get royalties should someone steal your intellectual property? This is where publishing companies get into the mix. ASCAP and BMI are two of the largest, but there may be others out there I don't know about. If you want to go the Library of Congress route, go to their website, and download the copyright forms. It used to be $10 per document, but this too, may have changed in the last few years. You can also call this first offering "a collection" and pay once for the group of songs instead of singularly. Good luck~

Answer 3

There is no age limit to obtaining a copyright. You need to make copies of your lyrics and register them with the USPTO. (link 1 will tell you how)

You don't have to register a copyright to own one, though. It's yours merely by the creation and placing in solid form (write it down). It's good to register your coprights because it's the final proof that you were the originator of the lyrics. There's a fee for registering a copyright.

I suggest a "poor man's copyright" for you if you don't have the money for registration. Write down your lyrics, put them in a sealed envelope addressed to yourself. WRITE your name and address on the same side of the envelope as the flap for sealing so that when the letter is cancelled it is cancelled over the sealed edges. Mail the envelope and do not open it. Keep it in a safe place in case you need to prove you are the author.

Another thing you can do that generally costs less than obtaining copyright registration is to have a copy of your lyrics including your byline (your name and the date you wrote them along with the sentence "I am the originator of these lyrics.") and go to a notary public. Ask it to be notarized. You will need to have picture ID to show the notary. There is a charge for a notary so ask in advance how much it will be.

Answer 4

All you have to do is put the "©" and the date after it.

2006 Frenchies Answers ©

Answer 5

go to Smithsonian institute website link to library of congress.