New subject: [linux-audio-user] U.S. Copyright: was FOLKS, PAY......

20 Dec 2005

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 10:12 , R Parker &lt;rtp405(a)yahoo.com&gt; sent:

...
 Hi,

      Sorry, but this is incorrect.  Since 1998
any
 piece of music that has been
 published (this is a very loose term which includes
 putting it on a CD and
 handing it to a friend) is automatically
 copyrighted.  You may register this
 copyright with the US Copyright Office but this is
 not required.  If you do wish
 to register the copyright all you need is a cassette
 tape and a copy of the
 lyrics (if any). 
Copyright registration has been on my mind lately. I
believe single and bulk (album) song registrations
cost $30.00. That is expensive when you consider how
the internet has shaped publishing and distribution.

Any of us can write, publish and distribute a song in
a single day. I don't think anyone wants to pay $30.00
for every registration.

The $30.00 registration purchases legally acceptable
evidence of ownership that is presentable in a court
of law. It is a record of proof but it's not
exclusive.

We used to do the poor man's registration by mailing
evidence, songs on a cassette with lyrics, back to
ourselves in a registered U.S. Postal package. That's
more affordable but inconvienant.

I want to publish with a free service on the internet
that establishes an equivalent to the poor man's
registration. Is this happening yet?

ron

    This is a really good idea.  I think to make it binding in court though you'd
need a Notary Public and a witness.  You could dump the written part to paper,
date it, witness it, and stamp it.  I'm not sure how you could deal with the
music portion but some variation on the first theme should work.  I doubt if
you'd be able to provide it for free but you might make it a lot cheaper than the
US Copyright Office.  The real trick is, would it stand up in court.

Jan

Re: [linux-audio-user] U.S. Copyright: was FOLKS, PAY......