This is part 2 of a 2 part post written by, entertainment attorney, Hillel Frankel on the importance of copyrighting your songs. You can view part 1 here.
Some quick copyright registration tips:
a) You can file all of the songs from an album (or group of recordings) on one copyright form and pay only one fee as long as: 1) the songs are all by the same writers (note: does not matter if the song splits are different as long as the same people wrote each of the songs) and 2) You list the Title as the album name and the song titles under “Alternative Title(s)” (note: Print out the form and type the song titles in by hand if they do not fit on the space provided on the PDF form, or use the CON continuation sheet).
b) If the songwriters are different for different songs, you can still group them together based on which songs do have the same writers. If each song has a different set of writers you need to file a new form for each song. Sorry can’t really save you the funds there.
c) Consider if you are the owner of the actual sound recording copyright; 1.Did your band pay for the recording? 2. You did not sign a contract with anyone giving them the rights? Then you own it! You can then register the copyright in the recording and the songwriting at the same time. Click the box for Sound Recording on the top of the CO Copyright form and then on page two select the boxes for Music, Lyrics and Sound Recording/Performances. Then follow the instructions to finish the form.
d) The copyright registration form does not require you to note who wrote what % of each song, as this form only protects the rights of the writers, it does not determine how the writers split the songs between each other or their publishers. Make sure to decide on and work out the writer’s splits for the songs as you prepare the copyright forms, and keep the list of splits in a safe place. I guarantee you will be referring to them often. You will also need them when you file the songs with a performing rights organization such as ASCAP or BMI.
Hillel Frankel email: hf@ent-law.net
website:www.ent-law.net
