Some people say it is okay to do the poor mans copyright. The Us copyright office says that the poor man copyright is not a copyright and is no good. I do not know what the website is but do a search on the us copyright office. However, if you copy right something with them. You can send a collections of songs on one cd and it will only cost $45.00 for the complete cd.
Registering a song with the US Copyright Office is the best way to protect your work, BUT the act of registering isn’t something you’re required to do. A song is protected by copyright from the moment it’s written.
The registration is simply a form of insurance should you ever need to prove that you wrote the song. Would you be willing to sue if someone claimed one of your songs as their own?
I’m guessing, but I’d say 99.9% of the songs that have ever been written never need the protection that registration ensures. Better safe than sorry, sure, but if you’re going to pay $45 every time you write a song or register a collection of songs, then the odds are in favor of you spending a lot more on your songwriting than you’ll ever make.
If your songs are recorded, I think it’s more important to register with BMI, which costs nothing, than to register with the US copyright office. Of course, if a major group wants to record your song, then it may be worth your investment to register it. You still have to be resolved to sue if one of your copyrights is ever infringed. Otherwise, it’s money down the government toilet and they’ll certainly be happy to take it off your hands.
“When is my work protected?
Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.
Do I have to register with your office to be protected?
No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.â€
Why should I register my work if copyright protection is automatic?
Registration is recommended for a number of reasons. Many choose to register their works because they wish to have the facts of their copyright on the public record and have a certificate of registration. Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney’s fees in successful litigation. Finally, if registration occurs within 5 years of publication, it is considered prima facie evidence in a court of law. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration†and Circular 38b, Highlights of Copyright Amendments Contained in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), on non-U.S. works.”
ClearCreekSinger, My late husband, a Minister had typewritten a lot of Gospel Songs, I now have them and I was told since he had signed them and I signed them to, that it would be safe for him.. A group from MS recorded one of his songs in late 80’s before we met & married, A local group, it was “ Life’s Journey” by: A MS Group called-- The Gospelaires, from near Tupelo,MS… Well, I was told it did very good in MS, TN AL and I’ve heard the song many times, it is a good song, I think?? ..
ever need some songs PM me.. (for God Music Ministry, I would give you any of the songs..Amen.
I would like to thank you all for you response and help.
Bro David
To answer your question, No I probably would never sue anyone. But some of my fellow artists have told me that this song is good. And they are recommending that I seek protection for it.
I know what you mean about 45$ for a song that may or may not have any merit. I have written alot of those! lol . hAVEN’T WE ALL. But, this one is different. So, since I didn’t know much about it, I thought here would be a good place to get info. AND it was!
Our group has recorded it and it is the title track on our album. I don’t know if it will go anywhere or not, with us singing it anyway. Only God knows.
We have been getting tremendous response about it from our audiences. It is the only song I have ever written that I considered worthy to use.
When I say that “I” wrote it, truthfully it was more like God hit me over the head with it.
Anyway, I didn’t mean to ramble on , but thanks again.
If you have actually recorded the song then you have a “Mechanical Copyright”. You need not worry, just hope some really popular group or artist hears, likes, records.
Earl
I’m spitballing here but would it not be more economical to register an entire recording of songs? For example, I write 10 songs, record them in some fashion as a demo, and submit that entire recording to the copyright office for registration. Since copyright occurs at the moment of creation, submitting a collection of songs for registration as a single body of work seems the easier and cheaper way out.
Register your songs as a volume of work. Make a sound recording and put a typed copy of your lyrics in the package. The recording doesn’t have to be fancy, just a simple representation of your tune and melody. Your songs will be registered. Basically, this means you have some additional “proof” if someone challenges your ownership.
If you become a successful writer for top SG groups, you’ll make very little money on your songs, certainly not enough to challenge ownership through the courts with a lawyer.
You will receive mechanical royalties for each unit sold. Currently the total mechanical royalties are 9.1 cents per song. That is split between the writer(s) and publisher(s). If you are sole writer and sole publisher, you will receive the entire 9.1 cents.
So, based on large professional SG group sales of about 5000 units per album, you’ll get $455 for you song. That’s not enough to go through a costly court battle. However, you need to protect your songs, because you never know when an artist on the scale of Randy Travis or Allan Jackson might choose your song. Randy’s album went Gold (500,000 units) and Alan’s went platinum (1,000,000 units).
Don’t let this discourage you, I’m sure you write for reasons other than the money.
I am from the Uk and the copyright law here means that, as soon as you write a song its legally yours. Proving it is the hard part, so you can mail a copy of the song to yourself with labelling to say whats on it, or you can get it certified by a lawyer. However, once you make a physical recording of the song you need a mechanical copyright license, which is paid to the songwriter. If the song is your own, you can normally be exempted from paying it. If the recording is broadcast on radio, TV or live, the venue needs a mechanical license and a performance license, which are paid to the songwriter and performer respectively. Its important then that the songwriters and performers are properly registered with the relevant collection agencies which in the UK are MCPS/ PRS and PPL. If anyone wants to be published in the Uk visit gospelmusiconline.co.uk and click on publishing
The “poor man’s copyright” comes up from time to time, and I know people that use it. It is not really a copyright since the copyright is something you have by virtue of creating a work (what DBM said), but rather proof that you did indeed create it.
As a confirmation of legitimate proof, I have always asked: has it been tested in court? Are there any judicial rulings or decisions which would confirm it to be legitimate? I have never found any. Registration is your best bet.
So, based on large professional SG group sales of about 5000 units per album, you’ll get $455 for you song.
Having written several songs myself, I have always wondered about the sales potential in the SG market. Is 5,000 units really typical for an established group - that sounds rather small. Is there a source I can go to for the sales volume for specific albums?
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