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Bobsax

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  1. Originally Posted by A. Einstein All those possiblities discussed here would never happen if you would compose original music. Originality is the one thing which unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. And, it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. Insist upon yourself. Be original. I'm not sure what your talking about but let's say your original song (from the CD you put out with Tunecore) is used buy somebody as background music in a low budget cable TV show or minor movie. Chances are you'll never find out about it. There is a lot of media out there. like I said If you've read this whole thread you may come to the conclusion that if by some huge coincidence somebody wrote a song just like yours (or stole your masterpiece) and you somehow found out about it you will need deep pockets full of tons of cash to sue or if you have a great case and a lawyer actually takes it on speck and you win you probably will see no $.
  2. If you've read this whole thread you may come to the conclusion that if by some huge coincidence somebody wrote a song just like yours (or stole your masterpiece) and you somehow found out about it you will need deep pockets full of tons of cash to sue or if you have a great case and a lawyer actually takes it on speck and you win you probably will see no $.
  3. This is an interesting article from TunCore http://blog.tunecore.com/2011/01/wha...etter1_20_2011
  4. Gigmaster- you seem like the REAL expert here , with real life knowledge of the subject and I thought your post deserved restating. One question though, I assume you sold the rights to your songs that were stolen but you kept your name on them as the composer? l Originally Posted by Gigmaster I don't know why there is so much confusion and wrong information out there on copyrighting. It's a relatively simple process, much easier than Income Tax forms. First off, you need the right form. Don't use Form SR unless you are copyrighting the ACUTUAL recording itself, in other words the araingment, etc.... You need form PA to copyright the actual song (lyrics, melody). Just record as many as will fit on a CD/DVD, fill out the forms carefully (they are legal documents), and send them in with the recordings and a $35.00 money order, until after August 1, 2009, when the fees go up to $65.00. They will send you a confirmation in the mail. That's all there is to it. Do not pay anyone for forms, or to copyright your music for you. The forms are free, and can be downloaded online from the Copyright Offices website. They also have extensive instructions and FAQs to help you, along with many other resources. A copyright will not protect your song from being stolen, unless you have a lot of money to wage a decades long lawsuit. If a big publisher want's your song, they are going to get it. They have more money than you. I have had several stolen over the years, but I don't mind. I got lots of others. The copyright is just proof that you registered it on a certain date, if and when you ever get in front of a judge. In my cases, it was just easier to settle with them for a fee and be done with it. No lawyers, or court briefs. They got the song, and I got SOME money, as opposed to getting nothing by pursuing a lawsuit. For them, it was chump change just to make it go away. For me, it was paying off my mortgage, or car. I was OK with it. But it is still better to have the copyrights, especially if you ever intend to have another company publish it. No legitimate publisher will touch your work unless it is copyrighted, in your name. Also, copyrights are assignable, and can be passed down to your children, grandchildren, etc... BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, and Harry Fox are licensing agencies, which have nothing to do with copyrights. You can't register anything with them unless you already have it copyrighted. All registering with them does is allow them to collect royalties on your behalf, for the use of your work (which you will see little, if any of). I don't want to get started on this subject because it is a major sore-spot with me. I consider the entire royalty collection and distribution system crooked. It's nothing more than legalized, organized crime. I believe the internet will save us all, as long as we keep the government and the alphabet soup-licensing agencies out of it (like RMA, etc...). It's the best thing to happen to creative artists since electronic keyboards.... Keep on giggin!!!
  5. Originally Posted by NeverTheMachine My band and I just "fired" our bass player. I want to copyright our most finished songs so he doesn't prevent us from using it. What is the right and fair way to do this? Technically I created the particular song in question along with this guy, but I want to copyright it so that the band and I have the right to perform the song and beyond. He played some bass lines, I came up with the guitar chords over it. He came up with the first few lines of lyrics and melody in a tone def way. I completed the melody, added a chorus and changed most of the lyrics to suit my updated melody. I played guitar and sang the song, did most of the arranging, and all of the mixing and mastering. So technically this is a pure collaboration. What to do? I don't think the Beatles first drummer ever had a stake in any of their songs , some of which were probably written while he was still in the band BUT- If your bass player wrote some of the lyrics and/or contributed to the melody with those lyrics he should have a stake in the tune. I see three solutions for you; 1) Take out his words and any melodic content he contributed. (Record both versions to prove his part was removed) 2) Pay him off. 3) Do nothing. If the song is a hit he can sue you or you can cut a deal at the time. Most likely the song won't make any money* so this seems the easiest thing to do. * This is not a dis on your song it's just statistics. Also Cheryl Crow recently said the recording industry has turned into the "Wild West" and nobody wants to pay for music anymore. She said she just wants people to listen to her latest CD and doesn't expect a lot in sales.
  6. If you have a decent recording wouldn't putting it up on a download site like iTunes ,emusic or Amiestreet do the job? If you go through Tunecore and continue to pay every year you'll have a record of when you first went live.
  7. They way you guys talk, There are Men In Black out to steal music wherever they can find it. What I want to know is; Has anybody had there song or recording actually stolen and if so how often does this happen and by whom?
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