A How To - Copyrighting Songs & Recordings

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Music Bridge LLC</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>    |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Music Bridge LLC"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About The Music Bridge "><U>About The Music Bridge </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Music Clearance Licensing"><U>Music Clearance & Licensing</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Music Supervision"><U>Music Supervision</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Music Consultation"><U>Music Consultation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Clients Credits"><U>Clients & Credits</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All Clear? 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This refers to the musical composition.  For example, the written form of your music would fall into this category.  </B></div> <div> <B>Sound Recordings are the recordings themselves.  According to</B><B> the </B><B>Library of Congress</B><B>,</B><B> sound recordings are “works that result from the fixation of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds, but not including the sounds accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work.”  For example, an audio recording of your performance would fall into this category.  However, music played in conjunction with a visual at the same time would not fit this category.  </B></div> <div> <B>When beginning, the best place to start is the </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006699" FACE="Arial" ><B>Library of Congress Copyright Office Website</B></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#660099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.copyright.gov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.copyright.gov"><U><B>www.copyright.gov</B></U></A><B>. </B></FONT><B> (Information at this website can also be found in Spanish.)  At this website you will find answers to almost any question regarding copyright law, why it exists, and how to get it.  This website also provides the necessary applications.  </B></div> <div> <B>The steps for registering a sound recording and a performing arts work are very similar.  The two types require different forms.  If registering a sound recording the form to look for is the “Form SR.”  If registering a performing arts work the necessary form is “Form PA.”  Along with the application, a fee is required.  The current fee amount can also be found at the library of congress website.  </B></div> <div> <B>The third item is a non-returnable copy of the work you wish to register.  All three items need to be packaged and sent together.  When sending, keep in mind that a box might be better than an envelope to avoid your package arriving damaged.  Send your package to the address listed below:</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Library of Congress</B></div> <div> <B>Copyright Office</B></div> <div> <B>101 Independence Avenue, S.E.</B></div> <div> <B>Washington, D.C. 20559-6000</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Good luck and best wishes!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sincerely,</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Music Bridge LLC</B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>