Good point, Steve. If I remember correctly from my copyright law classes (and it changes all the time, so don't take my word for it), common law copyrights -- not registered, that is, but assumed -- are only effective on songs if they have never been put into a public form, i.e. published as sheet music, recorded on a demo tape, etc.

Fat lot of good common law copyright does musicians, then :)

Arge -- I don't think so. Repealing copyrights would violate the 5th amendment as seizure of private property without compensation, I think.