Copyright Question

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Member Since: Nov 21, 2002

Okay, i have been told for a "poor man's copyright" you can
Put the sheet music in a self adressed sealed envelope, get it postmarked and mailed, and dont open it when you recieve it. I guess this would work, but i have also heard that you should include a recording. Anyone know any info on these methods? I have just finished my 2 years work, its all written out, saved, copied, transposed, and i feel i should copyright it. Not as if its worth stealing anyway :P. any info or personal experience will be appreciated greatly. Thanks- Danny

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Member
Since: Dec 14, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 12:53 am

There is a copyright form called (I believe ) SR for Sound Recording. You don't even need to score anything (maybe the melody, not sure). Go to the gov sight for this and you just download the form. Send it in with a recording, and that's that.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 07:57 am

www.copyright.gov/register/sound.html is the exact info you are looking for.

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 08:10 am

Does this copyright system work for the whole world or is it country sensitive?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 08:28 am

I don't think there is such a thing as a global law.

Member
Since: Nov 21, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 10:06 am

Thanks Guys. I already scored all the music anyway (what a pain in my *** that was), but i guess i will give that site a try.

Member
Since: Nov 21, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 10:09 am

Oh, and crux, i am pretty sure that if it is copywritten in one country, if someone overseas uses it, it is still illegal. -Dan

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 05:47 pm

filing the SR form will still cost money. if you looking to go the *free* route, or even if you're doing it legit, go ahead and mail yourself a "poor man's copyright"... it can't hurt :O)

Member
Since: Nov 21, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 11:20 pm

yea, it'll cost me $30! hey, i am a gigging musician, ya know how many gigs my crappy band would have to play to get $30? about 37! i think "poor man's C.R." is for me!

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2002


Dec 14, 2002 11:26 pm

I still don't understand this poor man's copyright business. Who do you mail it to?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 15, 2002 06:38 am

You mail it to yourself. Then your music has been carried by the federal postal service and thereby has certain inherited copyrights to the owner and has a date stamp on it. The big thing is DON'T open it after you mail it.

I don't understand, I doubt it will hold up in court, but it is the urban legend.

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Dec 15, 2002 10:21 pm

it's better than nothing. I think it's pretty slick.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 08:55 am

generally the "poor mans copywrite" won't hold in court because of the ease of forgery of the postmark.

International copyright laws exist but it's mostly regarding how trade treaties will be enforced... if it's copyrighted in the US it's fine... physical enforcement is another issue :)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 09:06 am

However, John Fogarty proved you can plagarize yourself. All of CCR's music is now owned by a major label (I forget which one) and they tried to sue him for his song "Center Field" because he ripped off a CCR chord structure and melody that he did not own. John one the case therefore proving the ability to rip yourself off and thwarting the value of "copyright".

There have been pages and pages and volumes and volumes covering music law and intellectual property, no matter how your slice it zek is right, enforcement of a copyright is an entirely different matter from having the copyright.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Dec 16, 2002 10:54 pm

Far be it from me to be negitive, especially in this new melimium of "good speak" and "political correctness", however, it happens! I realize this is a tangent. A medical company I worked for patented only projects that where duds. The idea was to have enough patents out there to throw road blocks at the competetor, thus delaying or destroying the marketing launch window. Items we did launch where not patented because that would make it easy for the competition to review the engineering and create work around engineering that would beat the patent rights. It was harder for the competition to actually procure and reverse engineer the equipment! Courts and enforcement agents are profit centers. nuf said.

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