Music Copyright

[Unregistered]

HELP!! I AM A NEW CHRISTIAN MUSIC WRITER. I HAVE WRITTEN TEN + SONGS AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO TO PROTECT MY RIGHTS. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO PAY A FEE TO HAVE MY SONGS COPYRIGHTED, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO TURN FOR THIS. WHO DO I CALL? HOW MUCH DO I PAY? HOW MANY SONGS CAN I COPYRIGHT AT ONCE? I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS AN EASY WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF CALLED "POOR MANS COPYRIGHT". ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS , AND GOD BLESS!!

[Unregistered]

Hi,

You need to submit your work to the US Copyright Office. You can all the information you need on their web site at http://www.loc.gov/copyright/. It is not complicated, and is inexpensive if you submit your work as a batch (or collection) submission.

The poor man's copyright is when you place your work in a sealed envelope, then mail it to yourself to aquire the dated postmark on the envelope. I am unsure of how something like this would stand up in court, and I don't recommend taking your chances with it. Better to pay the small filing fee at the US Copyright Office and have it done right.

Good luck, and may God bless you!

Rebecca