If you’d like to learn more about the music business and everything it has to offer, come along to one of ACM’s Open Days.Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. If topics such as copyright is of interest to you, and you want to find out more about the music industry, why not check out the brilliant music business courses ACM has to offer you never know what you might learn. We hope these tips have been helpful to you and have cleared up any confusion you may have had about the processes of copyrighting your music. Repercussions of copyright infringement can be serious, so it’s best to make sure you’ve given your work a clear stamp of authenticity.
#HOW TO COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK UK TRIAL#
Or, 2015’s trial where Robin Thicke’s track ‘Blurred Lines’ infringed on the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Got To Give It Up’. You might be familiar with a few cases such as Lana Del Rey’s dispute with Radiohead over her song ‘Get Free’, which unfortunately sounded a bit too similar to the group’s 1993 breakthrough hit ‘Creep’. Throughout history, there has been countless legal battles between artists fighting over musical ownership. So, before you follow any of the above tips, make sure it is you who has handed over the proceedings. Understand that it is usually the individual who has payed for the recording that is the owner of the rights.With recordings, copyright ends 70 years after it’s release. The following list states which elements within a song can be copyrighted: music/melody, lyrics, arrangements, production, performance, artwork/logo, pen name, band name and artist name.Ĭopyright of music and lyrics lasts 70 years after the creator’s death, after this limit, the ownership falls into the public domain. This can cause a whole mountain of problems if the correct author hasn’t been properly credited, so make sure ownership is given to the right member. If you had other people collaborate with you on your song/album, and you believe you have contributed too much to receive an equal share of royalty, then make sure you decide which member owns the rights to which part of the song.Their work will be a component within the popularity of your end product, so you have to give them some credit if they allow you to use it! When requesting permission, you usually need it in two formats: firstly from the copyright owner of the song, i.e the music publisher, and secondly from the copyright owner of the master recordings, such as the record company (if the artist is signed). When sampling your music, make sure you get the original artist’s permission.
Release your music! From the moment you release your song, you will instantly get a clear date of release, alongside writer’s credits which should prove the song is of your creation.Īlthough protecting yourself against copyright infringement is important, it’s equally just as crucial that you make sure you’re not the one who is infringing on others! Here are a few last points to keep you in the clear:.If you ever do find yourself in a legal situation where someone has accused you of copyright infringement, this is where the time-stamped envelope will come in hand – as long as it hasn’t been opened! The time stamp produced from the post will dictate when the music was written and copyrighted. Seal it within an envelope, sign it with your name, and post it to yourself by registered post. One of the most classic methods of copyrighting your music is the “do-it-yourself” method: As mentioned, make sure your work is written down on paper or stored as an audio recording.
#HOW TO COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK UK REGISTRATION#
Membership is also free, non-committal and easy to obtain – you simply fill out a registration form and then you’re good to go.
Members can register their original works and receive certified proof of ownership in the form of a certificate.