RE: [microsound] copyright...

[Graeme Scott <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

my understanding of copyright law is that any work is copywriten as soon as 
it is done - done as in you actually wrote the book, poem, song. 
 everything else is about proving it.  the copyright office (here in 
canada, anyway) does not take CD's, slides of pantings or manuscripts.  you 
fill out a peice of paper that says "I'm graeme, and I wrote this peice of 
music X"  If you have the peice of paper that says you created a peice of 
art, the burden of proof in court lies with the other party.  This is where 
the mailing back of the music to yourself is important, because if this 
went to court you would have proof.  There is other kinds of proof - 
playlists from radio, or a recept from the studio you recorded a song in, a 
copy of the CD you sent to SOCAN (what's the american version of SOCAN?) 
for example

this leaves concepts (stuff in your head) uncopywritable because they are 
not a "done" peice of work.  Of course, if you wrote about the concept the 
article would be copywritable.  There is a very good book titled "copywrite 
law for canadian musicians" . if you can't find an american version if 
still probably good because both canada america and most other countries 
have signed international agreements so the laws are similar.

graeme


-----Original Message-----
From:	david miller
Sent:	Thursday, June 20, 2002 9:10 AM
To:	microsound
Subject:	[microsound] copyright...

copyright question...  though it is, sorta, off topic...  sorry...

i've always heard that a very cheap but semi effectvie form
of copyrighting your music is just recording it to a cd, and mailing
it to yourself.  and never opening the package you sent it in.
i guess i'm asking everyone with 'real' copyright experience etc.
what your take on this is.

the reason i ask is: a former band of mine from 7 years ago just recorded a
song
that i, literally, half wrote - after ditching those songs immediately 
after
i quit 7 years ago...
anyway, i don't expect that they'd give me any kind of
credit for songwriting, though that's what they SHOULD do...

and i've long since done this cheap form of copyrighting on that half of 
the
song i wrote,
as well as the other stuff i wrote from that period.

so i was wondering what you all might have to say about it.

thanks!
david


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