Copyright forms...confused....

D

DVX100Shooter

Veteran
I have a VIDEO project that I am close to finishing that has an all original soundtrack that I created. I am confused which Copyright forms I am going to need. I can either copyright the music along with the each video project (Form PA I think) or I could copyright the music apart from the video as in its own entity (soundtrack) using Form SR. I am confused which way to handle this. Do I just copyright everything together as one project or copyright the video with one form and the music on another form? Should I send in a CD with all the music that is in the video projects that way I won't to pay a fee for each song I want to copyright?
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

A few years back I was writing songs with a band, we copyrighted some songs as a group of unpublished works, was how we were advised, and then when somehthing was ready for realese you would do each song. We never got that far as the band broke up but I did some research. There are some good books you can I think one was Songwriter's market, it gave us several ways to do it.

I would say copyright the music together, then copyright the entire project. I would only copyright the individual song if that was going to be released, or someone else wanted to use just that song for something.

Definitely get it copyrighted though.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

One more thing.

They may require you also to have the notes written out, the sheet music. My aunt had to do that for her album, or my grandmother did it for her.

If you were going to use the music in different projects, then copyright the music separately and you have to send in the sheet music and a recording of the music.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

Why don't you just put a statement of copyright on the video and a statement of copyright for each song? That's free.

What entity are you seeking to copyright this work with? I'm a bit confused.
 
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Yes I already have the copyright symbol and stuff on the screen in the credits. I just wanted to officially have it copywritten with the Library of Congress.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

OK, there’s confusion here.

Anything you create is copyrighted as soon as it’s created, as long as it’s not an unauthorized derivative work from something of someone else’s. You don’t have to do anything special for that. You retain all rights of ownership.

However, registering the copyright – and that’s with the Copyright office of the US government, and nowhere else – gives you access to a number of additional rights, including treble (triple) damages in court and other benefits you don’t get if you aren’t registered.

Copyright is not like a patent, which doesn’t exist until it’s granted by the patent office. Copyright is automatic.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

And patents are not trademarks which are not copyrights, although patents and trademarks are registered with the same governmental body.

Its all very confusing and not worth think about beyond the little C you put on your film.
 
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Trademarks is when you register your business name ie. Kellogs name & logo is registered trademark that is put on all their products.  So, if you design a logo for your business you can register that as a trademark.  Also you can register your business name so no one else can use that name.  The Country group Shenandoah had that problem several years ago where another band had that name, they fought for their name then broke up not too long after they won.  

Copyright is registering your artistic work whether it be music, film, painting, photographs, poetry, literature, or anything along that line you create or create as a collaboration with someone else.  As noted in a previous post, there are considerable benefits to registering.  I would suggest doing it, because you will feel better in the long run and not have to worry someone is going to steal your music.

I heard a story about Merle Haggard one time.  He wrote a song on the inside of a paper bag.  Many years later after it became  a hit he gave it to a friend as a gift, they asked him why he wrote on a bag and he said he was worried someone else would steal it and make a hit with it.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

[quote author=bodaphoto link=board=MesPhotos;num=1095743070;start=0#7 date=09/24/04 at 16:37:34]
Copyright is registering your artistic work whether it be music, film, painting, photographs, poetry, literature, or anything along that line you create or create as a collaboration with someone else.  As noted in a previous post, there are considerable benefits to registering.  I would suggest doing it, because you will feel better in the long run and not have to worry someone is going to steal your music.[/quote]


Rrrrrrrr . . . .sometimes I feel like I'm just banging my head against the wall.

Everyone repeat after me . . .

You have a copyright in your orginal work as soon as you create it. You own it. Your copyright can be infringed thirty seconds after you create it, and you can sue. Registration confers ADDITIONAL benefits and rights, and it's a good idea, but no one has to GIVE you a copyright.
 
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who said anything about someone giving a copyright? Everything I am doing or plan to work on, I am looking to pipe it right into the mainstream so I am going the extra mile and getting my material copyrighted. Now if it is just going to sit around the house or I don't plan to publish a song until next year or something then I may wait to copyright it. but like you said its copyrighted as soon as I create the song or project.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

David I was unclear in my post, I was just trying to emphasize the value and benefits of registering your work with the Library of Congress. Anything you create is yours whether you take a photograph or write a song, and a copyright exists from the moment you begin to create it.

People have won infringement suits without registering. Some people who don't have the funds to register lots of works, do the "poor Man's Copyright" by mailing it to themselves and keeping the package sealed.

I was just simply empahsizing, as were you, the added benefit of registering, especially if the work is being released into the public. If someone infringes on your work, the matter would be settled much quicker if the work is registered, then if it was not registered. I think that is the main concern and issue here, if something does happen, all you have to do is whip out your certificate, and then the only thing left to be decided is how much that person owes you.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

[quote author=bodaphoto link=board=MesPhotos;num=1095743070;start=0#10 date=09/24/04 at 19:40:40] Some people who don't have the funds to register lots of works, do the "poor Man's Copyright" by mailing it to themselves and keeping the package sealed. [/quote]
I know this is generally accepted as "common knowledge", but it's inaccurate. Actually this method is completely useless -- mail yourself an unsealed envelope and you'll see why. It'll never stand up in court, any lawyer can immediately invalidate the claim, so let's please all do our part to educate people that the "poor man's copyright" will just make the "poor man" lose his lawsuit and make him poorer...
 
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And besides, it doesn't cost that much less than just registering the thing.

Actually, Barry, sending yourself an unsealed envelope isn't what Boda had in mind -- he meant to seal the work in the envelope before you mail it as proof that you actually did write/create it.

The "unsealed envelope" trick is something used to defraud -- you send yourself a set of unsealed enveloped in the mail, wait until a huge movie comes along, download the script, tweak it a little so that it's not identical to the movie, and seal it into one of your pre-postmarked envelopes (presumably years before). You then claim to have written the script and have your sealed, postmarked envelope to "prove" it.

But as you point out, it won't hold up. It might get a studio to pay you to shut up, but it won't hold up in court -- and it's a crime.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

Well, yeah, that's what I mean. You can send yourself an unsealed envelope and then CLAIM that you sealed it.

Sending yourself a sealed envelope may make YOU feel good about it, but there's nothing to prove that it was sealed when it was mailed -- know what I mean? So any lawyer worth his salt will make that claim, and you'll be left holding the bag -- an empty bag, at that. Just because you know you did it "properly", doesn't mean a court will find that same way. And isn't the whole point of doing it to protect yourself in case you need to go to court?

The "poor man's copyright" is a pointless exercise because you can introduce reasonable doubt so easily. Better to just pay the $30 and register it with the Library of Congress.
 
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And even if you get a court to go along with it, you STILL don't get the benefits of registration.
 
Re: Copyright forms...confused....

I thnk I am going to put all of my current music on 1 CD and call it a soundtrack and send it in. That way I will only have to pay $30 once.
 
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Poor man's copyright isn't a bad idea as a backup as well though. Register your stuff and copyright it properly, but also send a copy of it to yourself, your lawyer, and someone else. By having multiple copies in multiple locations it helps validate your claim just that little bit more. It's cheap and can't hurt the process so long as you make sure you get it copyrighted properly.

Some bigger companies can have quite the powerful law team and registering a copyright can sometimes wane... not saying this happens often but i wouldn't be surprised what a team of high-priced corporate lawyers who make big bucks could pull off...
 
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