How can I get a copyright on this song me and my band created?Please make the answer simple in words that are easy to understand please.

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I made a film and I asked my teacher about this and she told me what to do. Apparently, you have to make a copy of the song, like burn it on a disk or something. And after, you have to put it in an envelope and mail it to yourself but you can't open it unless you have to show a lawyer or something like that. I don't know why you do that....But I did that. Once you mail it to yourself with the stamp and everything then it automatically becomes yours and it's copyrighted. :) Good luck. Best wishes to you and your band. I would love to hear your song someday.

Drama queen got it almost right. It's called a 'poor mans copyright'. You mail a copy to yourself by registered mail, so you have a dated receipt. You keep the receipt and the UNOPENED envelope. This at least proves 'primacy', (it proves you wrote it before the date). - It is not a copyright, just a proof if you have to sue someone for using your song.

The source websites I found online deal copyright issues specially in Canada and the US. Below is from a Canada website but I believe the general idea about securing your music copyright still applies: "How do you protect your band’s copyright in your music? There should be proof of creation of the group’s work, so that copyright can be relied on in case there’s a dispute about who owns the work. You can do this informally by making a rough recording and a copy of the work. Get the songwriters to sign both the recording and copy, have them witnessed and dated, and store the original recording in a safe place. Another way to prove copyright is to mail the original music, lyrics and recording to yourself by registered mail, and safely store the unopened original package. This provides proof of the date of creation of the work. Successful musicians who write works of greater value will go to the expense of having their work formally registered with Industry Canada. See www.cipo.gc.ca. Canada doesn’t register single physical recordings, but the American copyright office does. See www.copyright.gov. Canadian albums that go into general release are, however, registered at the National Library of Canada by the publisher. See www.collectionscanada.ca." ================================================= Here is the US copyright laws and regulations; government website (This should be a very useful source of information): http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html When you create your work, it's automatically copyrighted to you; however, if you want to avoid possible future dispute over the ownership of the music you made, consider "Copyright Registration", see (http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#rp) for the registration procedures. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Other Legal issues you may be interested in copyrighting your music (There's a checklist to help you and your band members come to agreement on the ownership of the songs you produce) - This is a US website: http://www.musicbizacademy.com/directory/copyright.htm ================================================= ================================================= =================================================

Copyright law varies a little bit by country, and you didn't tell us where you are. In the USA, copyright it automatic. As soon as you write the song down, or record it, it is automatically copyrighted. You can gain additional protection by then registering your copyright at http:\\www.copyright.gov, but it's not required. The "poor mans copyright" (ie mailing it to yourself) that "DramaQueen" mentions is a pure urban legend of no legal significance at all. Richard