Bye, Sam

Congatulations, A songwriters dream come true. In the U.S. the poormans copyright has been used for years, how successfully I don't know. My understanding is that Odetta may have come up with this plan. Actually I think oyu need to mail the song(s) registered with a postmark stamped on the song itself and a postmark over the glued edges of the flap. Keep it safe in a vault. Sandy will probably have an easier and saner way of doing this but then it probably costs moneyand we folkies barely can afford the stamps.

Ireland and Great Britain ( actually, I heard recently its just Pretty Good Britain now) may have laws that don't allow forsuch things. Call a legal aid society.

Don

c/o U. Ben Had COPYRIGHT CO.

PO BOX 7R11

Las Vegas, Nevada

Do you know if that only applies in the U.S?

Bye Sam

One thing to remember is that the government does not do any research on whether you are the author or not. They take the money, datestamp the form and file it. That records the date you offically asserted your claim of authorship. If someone else registered the same song the govenment would happily take his money and stamp his form too.

It is worth the money to register but if there is a dispute you could still end up in court. On the plus side, songs are seldom challenged unless they make a lot of money.

BMI licensing

To go directly to the government page:
Here is the page of the US copyright office procedures. There are several different ways to copyright music. Scroll down under performing arts, to music, lyrics, recordings. etc.
Copyright Registration Procedures

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