How To Protect Copyright Now: Registrations Services for Songs

 by Justine Shoolman
What's wonderful about Copyright vs. other forms of intellectual property, like Trademarks or Patents, is that it is automatically granted once your song is put in a fixed form. A "fixed form" means something tangible like on paper, a flash drive, on a CD, etc. Assuming your work is original (not copied) and it's the subject matter of copyright (literary work, artistic work, visual arts, dramatic works, sound recordings, and Serials and Periodicals), you do not need to apply for anything to own the copyright.

Having said this, in the event of copyright infringement, one must be able to prove ownership of the work in question. This can be tricky if you have not registered your song with a third party.

There are many copyright services out there (Government, Guilds, Online, etc.); however, many can be costly and may not protect your song for the life of copyright (unless you renew your membership).

When searching for a copyright service, ensure you understand the terms of the registration. Some questions to ask include:

o Is there a membership fee? If so, how much is it and how often must it be paid?

o Are there renewal fees to maintain the registration? Will I lose my registration if I cancel my membership?

o Is the protection for the life of copyright? If not, how long will my protection last?

o When will I receive my time-stamped registration certificate?

o Can I access my registered work or my registration certificate anytime? Does the service store a copy of this should I lose it?

o Where is the copy of my song kept (if any copy is kept)? Do I send a hard copy or an electronic file?

o If it's an online copyright service, can I have a free trial before committing?

o Do courts of law recognize the validity of the information gathered on the certificate?

The cost of copyright registration can vary dramatically. It can range from as little as $4 per song to $60 per song depending on the registration service you choose.

When evaluating your copyright service for songs, ensure you know all costs - fixed and re-occurring. As well, keep an eye out for membership fees or renewal fees that must be paid for your registration to remain valid. While some registration services have additional fees to maintain your protection, there are services that provide a one-time life-time protection fee.

When determining whether you want to pay for a copyright registration, a valid question to ask yourself is: Would I rather pay $10 now to protect my work, or much more in court to defend it should copyright infringement occur?

Disclaimer:
The above information is meant as a general guide to further your copyright knowledge about songs and does not constitute legal advice. For questions about your specific song, you should consult a copyright lawyer in your country.

Justine Shoolman is a Founder of Copyright Creators (CC), a service inspired by the shortfalls of "poor man's copyright". CC protects copyright for life with no membership fees. Visit CC today to receive 4 free registrations.

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