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by Anonymous on June 23rd, 2004

Anonymous

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Help answer this question below.

If you write a song, can you copyright it? If so, how?

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  • by mister_c on September 27th, 2004

    mister_c

    The point you need to remember is that just by creating an original work of art (be it a song, a painting, a photo or whatever) you automatically own the copyright on it. You have the right to declare that it is copyrighted and you have the right to place the copyright symbol (C) on it.

    Sites like the one mentioned in the other answer help you *protect* that copyright. If someone steals your work and claims it as their own it can be very difficult to prove that you created it first.

    The cheap way to protect your copyright is to send yourself a copy of your work in the mail, preferably using a service that means you have to sign for it. When it arrives don't open it, leave it with your attorney (or solicitor if you're on my side of the world!) and get them to witness and sign the date of delivery. If anyone disputes that you own the copyright to the work then this is a good place to begin proving your ownership.

    However, don't rely on it - it's by no means a sure-fire method of proving copyright. That's where services like the ones mentioned come in. Whether you decide to use them or not depends on how strongly you wish to protect your copyright.

    Comments

    • Correct. Sending off in a letter to yourself (as immortalized in Steely Dan's "Rikki Don't Lose That Number") is the "poor man's copyright". Courts have generally upheld disputes where the copyright holder held unopened (sealed) letters delivered and postmarked by the USPS.

      weatherman taking week or so off

      by weatherman taking week or so off on May 4th, 2007

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