Copyrights

A Practical View On Copyrights

Songwriters often worry that other people will steal their songs. They worry about sending their songs to publishers or entering songwriting contests.

While it's smart to be alert to copyright issues, it's also important to maintain perspective. Outright attempts to steal songs in today's music business are actually quite rare. And thanks to modern copyright law, songwriters have safeguards to help protect their rightful ownership of songs they create.

According to U.S. copyright law, songwriters own their songs the moment their songs are completed. It's a simple concept: You write the song, you own the copyright. 

If at some point you release hard-copy recordings such as CDs, it's a good idea to affix a copyright notice - i.e.  © John Doe 2018 - but that isn't mandatory under law. (Even if a copyright notice isn't stated on a recording, the rightful songwriter still receives lawful copyright protection.)

Most experienced songwriters realize there are likely to be revisions or rewrites on any given song, therefor filing a formal copyright registration with the U.S. Office of Copyrights is usually postponed until a song is completed and ready for public dissemination. 

It's up to each individual songwriter to decide at what point in the creative process they want to file a formal copyright with the Library of Congress. When you do file for a copyright, you'll have an option to copyright multiple songs for the price of one. To save on costs, instead of registering your songs separately, register your songs as a "collection" of songs.

Whether you decide to register your copyrights now or later, there's little reason to worry about playing your songs for  audiences, working creatively with other musicians and songwriters, or entering songwriting contests. There are legal safeguards in place to keep your songs from being stolen.

The bottom line is: It's against the law to steal anyone's songs. Should someone try, you as the rightful songwriter have legal recourse, whether or not your song is formally copyrighted through the U.S. Office of Copyrights.

Steve Cahill
SRN Song Professor

(There are many good books available on the subject of copyrights. Information is also available through Songwriters Resource Network and the official Library of Congress link below.)

Copyright forms are available at the U.S. Library of Congress

The Great American Song Contest is sponsored by Songwriters Resource Network, a trusted resource for songwriters everywhere.