1. You need to register with the US Copyright Office to get a Copyright

No. Registration doesn't "give" you the copyright. The Copyright Office doesn’t even listen to what you're copyrighting. They will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper documenting your claim of copyright to The Macarena. Of course, that piece of paper is not worth much if, in court, The Macarena owners prove they owned the copyright in the song long before you.

Recall that copyright protection occurs immediately from the time the original work you create is captured into a fixed form such as being recorded on a computer. Registering with the US Copyright Office only aids in the proof of copyright by making an official documentation of the work, as well as fixing a date of when it was created, which can help you in court if there's some kind of dispute of ownership. Additionally, it secures certain statutory benefits should a dispute arise. It does not confer copyright.

2. You need to use the © symbol otherwise you lose your copyright

No. This is simply not true anymore. Since 1979, you no longer need to include a symbol or any notice of copyright to ensure your rights. However, we certainly wouldn't advise you not to include it. Why not give someone notice that you have a copyright in your song?

3. The "Poor Man’s Copyright" Gives You the Same Protection at a fraction of the Cost

There is this notion that you can get the same benefits as registering with the US Copyright Office without having to pay the $30 fee by implementing a "poor man's copyright." That is, to put what you want to copyright in an envelope (e.g. a CD with the songs you want to protect) and mail it to yourself. The idea being that the postmark date the US Post Office gives you in canceling the stamp will prove when the song was written. This being law, you can make an argument that in some ways it does. However, there’s no sense in wasting the postage: your original work is already copyrighted instantly once recorded. You won't get the statutory benefits you would have gotten had you spent the money and registered with the US Copyright Office. What are those benefits again?

Next: How to Register Your Songs with the US Copyright Office

Back to The Indie Band Survival Guide Ebook Home

1. You need to register with the US Copyright Office to get a Copyright

No. Registration doesn't "give" you the copyright. The Copyright Office doesn’t even listen to what you're copyrighting. They will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper documenting your claim of copyright to The Macarena. Of course, that piece of paper is not worth much if, in court, The Macarena owners prove they owned the copyright in the song long before you.

Recall that copyright protection occurs immediately from the time the original work you create is captured into a fixed form such as being recorded on a computer. Registering with the US Copyright Office only aids in the proof of copyright by making an official documentation of the work, as well as fixing a date of when it was created, which can help you in court if there's some kind of dispute of ownership. Additionally, it secures certain statutory benefits should a dispute arise. It does not confer copyright.

2. You need to use the © symbol otherwise you lose your copyright

No. This is simply not true anymore. Since 1979, you no longer need to include a symbol or any notice of copyright to ensure your rights. However, we certainly wouldn't advise you not to include it. Why not give someone notice that you have a copyright in your song?

3. The "Poor Man’s Copyright" Gives You the Same Protection at a fraction of the Cost

There is this notion that you can get the same benefits as registering with the US Copyright Office without having to pay the $30 fee by implementing a "poor man's copyright." That is, to put what you want to copyright in an envelope (e.g. a CD with the songs you want to protect) and mail it to yourself. The idea being that the postmark date the US Post Office gives you in canceling the stamp will prove when the song was written. This being law, you can make an argument that in some ways it does. However, there’s no sense in wasting the postage: your original work is already copyrighted instantly once recorded. You won't get the statutory benefits you would have gotten had you spent the money and registered with the US Copyright Office. What are those benefits again?

Next: How to Register Your Songs with the US Copyright Office

Back to The Indie Band Survival Guide Ebook Home

1. You need to register with the US Copyright Office to get a Copyright

No. Registration doesn't "give" you the copyright. The Copyright Office doesn’t even listen to what you're copyrighting. They will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper documenting your claim of copyright to The Macarena. Of course, that piece of paper is not worth much if, in court, The Macarena owners prove they owned the copyright in the song long before you.

Recall that copyright protection occurs immediately from the time the original work you create is captured into a fixed form such as being recorded on a computer. Registering with the US Copyright Office only aids in the proof of copyright by making an official documentation of the work, as well as fixing a date of when it was created, which can help you in court if there's some kind of dispute of ownership. Additionally, it secures certain statutory benefits should a dispute arise. It does not confer copyright.

2. You need to use the © symbol otherwise you lose your copyright

No. This is simply not true anymore. Since 1979, you no longer need to include a symbol or any notice of copyright to ensure your rights. However, we certainly wouldn't advise you not to include it. Why not give someone notice that you have a copyright in your song?

3. The "Poor Man’s Copyright" Gives You the Same Protection at a fraction of the Cost

There is this notion that you can get the same benefits as registering with the US Copyright Office without having to pay the $30 fee by implementing a "poor man's copyright." That is, to put what you want to copyright in an envelope (e.g. a CD with the songs you want to protect) and mail it to yourself. The idea being that the postmark date the US Post Office gives you in canceling the stamp will prove when the song was written. This being law, you can make an argument that in some ways it does. However, there’s no sense in wasting the postage: your original work is already copyrighted instantly once recorded. You won't get the statutory benefits you would have gotten had you spent the money and registered with the US Copyright Office.

Next: How to Register Your Songs with the US Copyright Office

Back to The Indie Band Survival Guide Ebook Home

1. You need to register with the US Copyright Office to get a Copyright

No. Registration doesn't "give" you the copyright. The Copyright Office doesn’t even listen to what you're copyrighting. They will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper documenting your claim of copyright to The Macarena. Of course, that piece of paper is not worth much if, in court, The Macarena owners prove they owned the copyright in the song long before you.

Recall that copyright protection occurs immediately from the time the original work you create is captured into a fixed form such as being recorded on a computer. Registering with the US Copyright Office only aids in the proof of copyright by making an official documentation of the work, as well as fixing a date of when it was created, which can help you in court if there's some kind of dispute of ownership. Additionally, it secures certain statutory benefits should a dispute arise. It does not confer copyright.

2. You need to use the © symbol otherwise you lose your copyright

No. This is simply not true anymore. Since 1979, you no longer need to include a symbol or any notice of copyright to ensure your rights. However, we certainly wouldn't advise you not to include it. Why not give someone notice that you have a copyright in your song?

3. The "Poor Man’s Copyright" Gives You the Same Protection at a fraction of the Cost

There is this notion that you can get the same benefits as registering with the US Copyright Office without having to pay the $30 fee by implementing a "poor man's copyright." That is, to put what you want to copyright in an envelope (e.g. a CD with the songs you want to protect) and mail it to yourself. The idea being that the postmark date the US Post Office gives you in canceling the stamp will prove when the song was written. This being law, you can make an argument that in some ways it does. However, there’s no sense in wasting the postage: your original work is already copyrighted instantly once recorded. You won't get the statutory benefits you would have gotten had you spent the money and registered with the US Copyright Office. What are those benefits again?

Next: How to Register Your Songs with the US Copyright Office

Back to The Indie Band Survival Guide Ebook Home

1. You need to register with the US Copyright Office to get a Copyright

No. Registration doesn't "give" you the copyright. The Copyright Office doesn’t even listen to what you're copyrighting. They will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper documenting your claim of copyright to The Macarena. Of course, that piece of paper is not worth much if, in court, The Macarena owners prove they owned the copyright in the song long before you.

Recall that copyright protection occurs immediately from the time the original work you create is captured into a fixed form such as being recorded on a computer. Registering with the US Copyright Office only aids in the proof of copyright by making an official documentation of the work, as well as fixing a date of when it was created, which can help you in court if there's some kind of dispute of ownership. Additionally, it secures certain statutory benefits should a dispute arise. It does not confer copyright.

2. You need to use the © symbol otherwise you lose your copyright

No. This is simply not true anymore. Since 1979, you no longer need to include a symbol or any notice of copyright to ensure your rights. However, we certainly wouldn't advise you not to include it. Why not give someone notice that you have a copyright in your song?

3. The "Poor Man’s Copyright" Gives You the Same Protection at a fraction of the Cost

There is this notion that you can get the same benefits as registering with the US Copyright Office without having to pay the $30 fee by implementing a "poor man's copyright." That is, to put what you want to copyright in an envelope (e.g. a CD with the songs you want to protect) and mail it to yourself. The idea being that the postmark date the US Post Office gives you in canceling the stamp will prove when the song was written. This being law, you can make an argument that in some ways it does. However, there’s no sense in wasting the postage: your original work is already copyrighted instantly once recorded. You won't get the statutory benefits you would have gotten had you spent the money and registered with the US Copyright Office. What are those benefits again?

Next: How to Register Your Songs with the US Copyright Office

There is a great deal of common myths surrounding copyright. Three of these are discussed below.

1. You need to register with the US Copyright Office to get a Copyright

No. Registration doesn't "give" you the copyright. The Copyright Office doesn’t even listen to what you're copyrighting. They will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper documenting your claim of copyright to The Macarena. Of course, that piece of paper is not worth much if, in court, The Macarena owners prove they owned the copyright in the song long before you.

Recall that copyright protection occurs immediately from the time the original work you create is captured into a fixed form such as being recorded on a computer. Registering with the US Copyright Office only aids in the proof of copyright by making an official documentation of the work, as well as fixing a date of when it was created, which can help you in court if there's some kind of dispute of ownership. Additionally, it secures certain statutory benefits should a dispute arise. It does not confer copyright.

2. You need to use the © symbol otherwise you lose your copyright

No. This is simply not true anymore. Since 1979, you no longer need to include a symbol or any notice of copyright to ensure your rights. However, we certainly wouldn't advise you not to include it. Why not give someone notice that you have a copyright in your song?

3. The "Poor Man’s Copyright" Gives You the Same Protection at a fraction of the Cost

There is this notion that you can get the same benefits as registering with the US Copyright Office without having to pay the $30 fee by implementing a "poor man's copyright." That is, to put what you want to copyright in an envelope (e.g. a CD with the songs you want to protect) and mail it to yourself. The idea being that the postmark date the US Post Office gives you in canceling the stamp will prove when the song was written. This being law, you can make an argument that in some ways it does. However, there’s no sense in wasting the postage: your original work is already copyrighted instantly once recorded. You won't get the statutory benefits you would have gotten had you spent the money and registered with the US Copyright Office. What are those benefits again?

Next: How to Register Your Songs with the US Copyright Office

There is a great deal of common myths surrounding copyright. Three of these are discussed below.

1. You need to register with the US Copyright Office to get a Copyright

No. Registration doesn't "give" you the copyright. The Copyright Office doesn’t even listen to what you're copyrighting. They will happily take your money and give you a piece of paper documenting your claim of copyright to The Macarena. Of course, that piece of paper is not worth much if, in court, The Macarena owners prove they owned the copyright in the song long before you.

Recall that copyright protection occurs immediately from the time the original work you create is captured into a fixed form such as being recorded on a computer. Registering with the US Copyright Office only aids in the proof of copyright by making an official documentation of the work, as well as fixing a date of when it was created, which can help you in court if there's some kind of dispute of ownership. Additionally, it secures certain statutory benefits should a dispute arise. It does not confer copyright.

2. You need to use the © symbol otherwise you lose your copyright

No. This is simply not true anymore. Since 1979, you no longer need to include a symbol or any notice of copyright to ensure your rights. However, we certainly wouldn't advise you not to include it. Why not give someone notice that you have a copyright in your song?

3. The "Poor Man’s Copyright" Gives You the Same Protection at a fraction of the Cost