How does one get something copyrighted and how much does it cost (if anything)?

Question

Thinking about copyrighting a song which was written by a freind's band.

Answer 1

Copyright doesn't cost anything as, in the UK, it arises automatically upon the creation of an original work.

That means that the owner (creator) of the work has rights to it (you mention copyrighting a song written by a friend's band - the composer would own copyright, which lasts for the life of the author of the work plus seventy years). Attempt to infringe a copyrighted work (use it without permission) or pass it off as your own and a fight over copyright can arise.

This leads to a bigger point: loads of people create loads of stuff all the time. What about where an idea is alleged to have been derived from another idea (this sometimes happens with songs; some can sound too similar and lead to claims of copyright infringement). Often one of the biggest issues with copyright is proving you were the one to first come up with the idea. A cheap way of proving copyright in a song is to place a copy in a sealed envelope and post it to yourself. then - when you get it - DON'T open the letter, just keep it in a safe place. If any disputes arise later on, the unopened letter with royal mail postmark (together, of course, with the contents when opened in a court for the FIRST time) go some way to showing when the idea was created. This is just an idea: it's not foolproof and if you want to do something that can be totally undisputed you'd have to see a lawyer that specialises in intellectual property law for advice.

Answer 2

Cost Of Copyrighting A Song

Answer 3

If you are in the UK. The copyright and all other rights are yours automatically. It is only when you want to let others read your work (legally known as 'publishing' it, even though it may still be one copy being read by a friend) that you need to mark your work with the copyright symbol, (a small c in a circle), followed by the date (the year the first person other than you reads it) and your name. Then you are protected by law for about 80 years. You can later sell the copyright or the reproduction rights to your work.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How does one get something copyrighted and how much does it cost (if anything)?
Thinking about copyrighting a song which was written by a freind's band.

Answer 5

Copyrighting is easy - write out the lyrics and at the bottom put the following:-

(c) Copyright [the date] [your name (or the name of the person you want it copyrighted to)]

It's not necessary to sign your name(s) underneath but it won't do any harm. If the song makes it big then that signed copy will be worth a small fortune to collectors one day!

If you really want to ensure that it is protected against any dispute with regards the date it was copyrighted then send it to yourself recorded delivery and when it is delivered DON'T OPEN IT. The date of the recorded delivery will confirm the date of the copyright.

Answer 6

The person who wrote it has the copyright & the only right to register it with the copyright office. Registration, which is not expensive, simply gives one additional rights to seek injunctive relief & added damages in the event of a violation.

For most written works & photos the benefits of registration are marginal because it is easy to tell if they are copied. New musical works however, are another matter. It is so easy to copy, rearrange & make minimal changes to disguise them & so possible that someone you never heard of will pick it up & make it into something, that registration is worth the effort.

Answer 7

Poor Man's Copyright:

Send whatever you want Copyrighted, to yourself via Certified Mail. DO NOT OPEN IT. It will have information to protect you if someone steals your idea.

Answer 8

copy right means that it protects the intellectual property of the person who created it. You don't need to do any thing.

To be one the safe side type up the lyrics etc. Put them in an envelope and seal it, post it to yourself and DON'T open it. It means if someone tried to rip off your work you could prove in court that you had wrote it. It should only be open in court in front of a judge should anything happen.

The date stamp provides the proof. Just keep it safe and best of all it only costs you the price of a stamp.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

One of the simplest ways to copyright something is to print it out, put it in an envelope, and mail it to yourself. DO NOT ever open it. The post office will date the envelope so if copyright issues ever come up, you can prove when you did it.

Answer 10

You can't copywrite the song if it was written by your mates band, only the person who created the song owns the copywrite.
They can post a copy to themselves recorded delivery and don't open the envelope as proof; but the moment they wrote the song they own it.