Copyright Questions! PLEASE HELP ME!

Muz1cq4rLxD · 12-29-2016, 12:23 PM

Dear music people out there!

I have a very serious question that i really need help with and that i hope anyone have some answers to,
especially if you're someone in the music scene who really understands the industrie.
First of i want to note real quick that i'm not an American so if my english isn't top notch or a little off...
Well, that would explain it, heh.

But anyway, so, i'm a singer/songwriter and my question is,
what do i do if someone copy/steal my musik? I've heard a little bit about the whole copyright infringement but...
I guess i don't really know what to do.
My thing is, for instance i want to post my music on my facebook page and also start sending out demos to music labels.
But before i do all that, i want to protect my music in some way.
(Btw i record my music myself, none professionally. Guess you can call it kind off rough demo form but they sound pretty neat)

But i'm afraid that someone will copy my musik, may it be some unknown aspiring singer
or even some one in the music scene who has connections, an established artist, producers, labels, songwriters WHO KNOWS.
I don't stand a chance on winning that battle going up against those kinds of people who have a form of power that i don't have.
Now some would say that i'm a little over my head here or that it wouldn't happen, but the reality is
that these sorts of things happen. You just can't be so certain that it won't.
That said, i also i'm aware of the fact that you can't avoid it either.

Lord now i probably sound paranoid but whatevs!
Just HOW exactly can i protect my music in some way, that if it should ever happen
i don't have to worry about it.

I would REALLY appreciate it if someone could help me or give me some honest advice, feedback JUST SOMETHING!

Thank you in advance!

Sincerely... A very passionate music lover (who really just want to share her music with the world)

Key · 12-29-2016, 12:27 PM

Well...for starters, are we to assume that you didn't steal the music that you claim to be original? Nobody is original anymore.

Plankton · 12-29-2016, 01:30 PM

Quote:

For a new song or other work, copyright begins at the moment of fixation — when the music and lyrics have been set down on paper, recorded, or stored on a computer. Copyright protects the musician even if the song is never registered with the Copyright Office.

Copyright Basics for Musicians - Music Copyright Law

The digital time stamp would be the key factor in your situation.

Muz1cq4rLxD · 12-29-2016, 01:54 PM

Okay, but would that be enough prove that i'm the original owner of the music and that if i'd ever had to sue someone
(especially if it were to be someone well known with connection and power and all that) would i be able to win that case?

Muz1cq4rLxD · 12-29-2016, 01:55 PM

*Kiiii

Speak for yourself please. I don't do that kind of stuff. There's a reason why i'm
so passionate about writing songs, not to just copy everybody else!

Trollheart · 12-29-2016, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muz1cq4rLxD

Okay, but would that be enough prove that i'm the original owner of the music and that if i'd ever had to sue someone
(especially if it were to be someone well known with connection and power and all that) would i be able to win that case?

It's pretty pointless to ask if we can say you could win a case, especially if you were, as you fear, up against someone with a lot of legal clout. Often cases rest on how much money can be spent, the better legal team you have etc. So chances are, if you went up against, let's say, Kanye, you would likely lose (though nothing is certain) as he would not only have all the resources he needed at his command, but people, including a jury if there was one or a judge, would be less likely to think he would waste his time copying your music. You in fact would be seen to, I would expect, be more likely to be trying to squeeze cash out of him.

George Michael, on the other hand, you would win against, since he is now dead.

Sorry, sorry!

But that's what I think: you go up against the big boys, even if you're right, chances are you will lose. All you can do is try to make sure you take the best legal precautions you can and ensure you can afford a decent lawyer if you need one. If you make enough money, maybe retain a music lawyer? I have a brother who ... never mind.

Do bear in mind that I know nothing about the law with regard to music, and there are people here far better qualified to answer your worries. This is purely what I think personally. Could be totally wrong.

Muz1cq4rLxD · 12-29-2016, 06:40 PM

*Trollheart Okay, thanks for the reply!

But are there other ways to copyright my music besides the fact that it's automatically copywriten once posted?

Trollheart · 12-29-2016, 07:32 PM

Plankton is a guitar god with several albums out; I'm sure he knows more about protecting your music than most anyone here.

12-29-2016, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Muz1cq4rLxD Groupie Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 4	Copyright Questions! PLEASE HELP ME! Dear music people out there! I have a very serious question that i really need help with and that i hope anyone have some answers to, especially if you're someone in the music scene who really understands the industrie. First of i want to note real quick that i'm not an American so if my english isn't top notch or a little off... Well, that would explain it, heh. But anyway, so, i'm a singer/songwriter and my question is, what do i do if someone copy/steal my musik? I've heard a little bit about the whole copyright infringement but... I guess i don't really know what to do. My thing is, for instance i want to post my music on my facebook page and also start sending out demos to music labels. But before i do all that, i want to protect my music in some way. (Btw i record my music myself, none professionally. Guess you can call it kind off rough demo form but they sound pretty neat) But i'm afraid that someone will copy my musik, may it be some unknown aspiring singer or even some one in the music scene who has connections, an established artist, producers, labels, songwriters WHO KNOWS. I don't stand a chance on winning that battle going up against those kinds of people who have a form of power that i don't have. Now some would say that i'm a little over my head here or that it wouldn't happen, but the reality is that these sorts of things happen. You just can't be so certain that it won't. That said, i also i'm aware of the fact that you can't avoid it either. Lord now i probably sound paranoid but whatevs! Just HOW exactly can i protect my music in some way, that if it should ever happen i don't have to worry about it. I would REALLY appreciate it if someone could help me or give me some honest advice, feedback JUST SOMETHING! Thank you in advance! Sincerely... A very passionate music lover (who really just want to share her music with the world)

12-29-2016, 01:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Muz1cq4rLxD Groupie Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 4	Kiiii Speak for yourself please. I don't do that kind of stuff. There's a reason why i'm so passionate about writing songs, not to just copy everybody else! Last edited by Muz1cq4rLxD; 12-29-2016 at 02:00 PM.*

12-29-2016, 07:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Plankton is a guitar god with several albums out; I'm sure he knows more about protecting your music than most anyone here. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-29-2016, 12:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Well...for starters, are we to assume that you didn't steal the music that you claim to be original? Nobody is original anymore.

12-29-2016, 01:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Muz1cq4rLxD Groupie Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 4	Okay, but would that be enough prove that i'm the original owner of the music and that if i'd ever had to sue someone (especially if it were to be someone well known with connection and power and all that) would i be able to win that case?

12-29-2016, 06:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Muz1cq4rLxD Groupie Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 4	*Trollheart Okay, thanks for the reply! But are there other ways to copyright my music besides the fact that it's automatically copywriten once posted?