How would I copyright song lyrics that I made?

I really do not understand the process..Help Please





I have written many songs but I am unaware how to copyright them. Also I would like to know how would one become a songwriter also.





Any help is appreciated.

How would I copyright song lyrics that I made?
How exactly to you go about copyrighting a song? Is it even necessary? Here's a brief explanation of the process and the terms:





Copyright protection is acquired automatically when a work is "created". The definition of "created" is when a work is fixed in a copy or recording for the first time.





However, Proof of ownership and copyright is achieved by registration of the copyrighted song. This is done by filing Copyright form PA or form SR, with a check for $30, and one copy of the unpublished song on a record, tape, CD, or lead sheet. If the song has been published, two copies are sent.





Registration becomes effective upon receipt of the application form, copies of the song, and the fee.





Registration of songs is necessary in order to protect a song from being used without permission, and is necessary to present in a court of law and to sue for copyright infringement. It guarantees legal protection.





Copyright forms PA and SR (explained below) can be found in many published books, or may be obtained from the copyright office:





Copyright Office, Library of Congress


Washington, DC 20559








Put a copyright notice on all published copies of the song. A circle with a small 'c' [©] in it is the usual mark, but the word 'copyright' is also acceptable. Follow the mark with the year and the songwriter's name. Note: the year stated is the year the song was 'first published', not when the song was written. Unpublished works need no copyright notice, but it is still a good idea to put the mark and use the phrase, for example "unpublished 2002, James Jones".





A copyrighted work has protection under the law for the life of the songwriter, plus 75 years after his/her death.





Song titles are not copyrightable. But be aware that using the exact title of a song that has established itself as part of the culture, can open the doors for a lawsuit based on property rights in the title, which belong to the copyright owner of the famous song.





The sound recording copyright (registered with form SR) is for the protection of the sounds on the recording, and usually belong to the record company who has released the CD or tape. The PA copyright form is the copyright of the work on the CD or tape, and usually belongs to the Publisher of the song. If the same person owns the recording and the song, use one SR form.





The Mechanical rights and the Performance rights to a song are the two separate rights granted to the owner of the song. Mechanical rights are given in order to reproduce the song on actual CD's and tapes, and to sell the reproduced copies to the public. It is the responsibility of record labels to pay mechanical royalties to the owner of the song, for the sale of CD's or tapes. As of 2002 the mechanical royalty rate is 8.0 cents per song, per CD or tape sold. Adjustments to this rate are made every two years. Additional rates apply for songs over 4 minutes.





Performance rights are granted in order for the song to be sung or played (recorded or live), in a public place or on radio and television. It is the function a Performance Rights Organization to grant these licenses and pay the owner of the song for the use of the song on the radio, TV, hotels, clubs, colleges, some restaurants and bars, elevators, doctors offices, stores, etc. There are three Performance Rights Organizations in the United States. They are BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC.





A song that is reproduced on a soundtrack for a film or a TV show is called a synchronization, and the film or TV producer must secure a synchronization license from the owner of the song. (commonly called a 'synch' license.)





Two other sources of income for a songwriter and publisher are sheet music sales, and songs used as jingles or ads.





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As for becoming a songwriter...if you've written songs, you already are!





I don't know how one would become professional. I've known many songwriters/musicians who've sent material to record companies only to have the mail return, unopened- most of the major labels don't accept unsolicited mail. I would try the Willie Nelson way....try to sell your songs to up-and-coming artists in your area. Go to local shows and open mic nights and talk to the musicians there? I don't know.





Hope the info on copyrighting helps!
Reply:get a copyright lawyer.....
Reply:(I am assuming you are in the United States.) Actually it's very easy. You don't have to go through any sort of process for it - simply publish the lyrics in some way and write at the end of them that they are copyright (your name) 2007.





You don't need to have the songs recorded or anything. Simply post the lyrics on a web site, journal, or something like that, and at the end note that you have copyright on them. In fact, all of your work is copyrighted under your name as soon as you write it, automatically - but if you don't post it somewhere at a given date, it will be impossible to prove that you wrote it first if someone else tries to steal them.





If you don't want to put them online, there is another method for proving you came up with something first (this works for patents as well): simply write it all down, put it in an envelope and put your address as the sender and reciever. Stamp it, and mail it to yourself, and do not open the envelope. When it goes through the postal system, they put a date stamp on it - if anyone ever tries to steal your lyrics, you can prove that you wrote them first. Simply bring the sealed envelope to the court, allow them to see the date stamp, and then open it and show them the contents. Nobody will be able to dispute that you had written those lyrics by the date on that envelope.





As for being a better songwriter, all I can say is practice. If you ask any popular songwriter, most of them will tell you that in the beginning they were terrible at it. If they are honest, they will also tell you that most of the songs they write are still horrible - but if you just keep writing, now and then something fantastic will come up, and that's what you show people. :)





Good luck writing your songs!