Complete Legal New York Music Forms For Free

Which form should I use? Online registration through the electronic Copyright Office (eCO) is the preferred way to register basic claims. Paper versions of Form TX (literary works); Form VA (visual arts works); Form PA (performing arts); Form SR (sound recordings) are available on the Copyright Office website.

At least in the US copyright is automatically given to the creator. A simple way to back that up in court is to take the content and mail it to yourself and don't open it. that way you can prove the date through the postmark. For additional protection register the work with the US copyright office.

The copyright owner can copyright a song or multiple songs on an audio recording. It takes six or more months to process a song copyright. A nonrefundable $35 filing fee for online applications and an $85 filing fee for paper applications as of this date. Fees can change, so always check the U.S. Copyright website.

Think about registering your copyright. You have a copyright in your music even if you don't register it. However, registration provides you with many advantages. For example: You generally cannot sue in federal court for someone infringing your copyright unless you have registered the copyright.

Applying for registration with the U.S. Copyright Office requires an application, a filing fee, and a copy of the work. Depending on the type of work, there are several different online application options, including the following: Standard Application for registering an individual sound recording or musical work.

Luckily, this is really easy to do! In fact, music is automatically copyrighted the moment you create it in a tangible medium; like on paper or on an audio recording. That's right! All you have to do is write your original song down on paper or record it, and you own the copyright.