copyright

[egordon99]

Chords are only useful if you already know the melody. How could you possibly derive the melody with just chord symbols???

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by egordon99

Chords are only useful if you already know the melody. How could you possibly derive the melody with just chord symbols???

You can't... Not to mention If I remember correctly the Copyright office requires either a recording (physical or digital) OR formal musical notation sheets or digital files (which would show melody notes and timing etc. )

I am confused why this would not be fairly obvious, given without an indication of the melody , you could end up with a number of different songs with the same exact chord progression, but no means to grant different specific copyright.

[Tadmcd]

well, sure.

i "get" the whole chord/melody conundrum, but that's sort of beside the point. had i known of their more specific requirements (i.e., what constitutes a "valid" application for a song), i would have either complied or simply not applied, knowing i had no intention (or ability) of complying with their guidelines and saved $65 in the bargain.

the whole idea was a novelty gift for a friend. i told her. she's not heartbroken and i got credit for the thought. win/win.

meh. experience is what you get right after you need it.

[rick-slo]

Registered a few of my CD with U.S. Copyright Office (cheaper than registering recording by recording).

Unless you write a mega hit probably more useful to just sign up for digital distribution (I have used CDBaby).

[egordon99]

Originally Posted by Tadmcd

i don't understand why chords, repetitious or otherwise, don't represent "music,"

Because there is NO way to derive the melody from just chords.

That would be like trying to copyright a poem by just submitting ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ and wondering why that wouldn't sufficiently represent the poem/words you were trying to convey.

Could the copyright office have done a better job of calling out what would NOT be sufficient for a music submission? Maybe, maybe not...

[BoneDigger]

Isn't it also true that you can copyright multiple songs as a "collection" and avoid the cost of individual copyright? For instance, write/record an album worth of music then copyright all songs together?

[rick-slo]

See my post 19.

[Big Band Guitar]

Originally Posted by JonPR

What do you actually get for your money? Do they track covers, set up search bots on social media?
Do you get legal advice or support if anyone attempts to cover it without getting a license?
Is any kind of publishing deal involved?

I'm asking because I know you have copyright in any song automatically as soon as you've written it. The only problem is proving priority (date of origin). There are may ways if doing that - such as simply posting it online, because the upload is dated. (You could also keep a file copy on hard disk, making sure you never edit it of course. That's equivalent to the old pre-internet method of posting yourself the manuscript with an official proof of postage date.)

Naturally anyone who finds it could then steal it, but your priority is easily proved - provided the original upload is not removed.

Of course, I understand the nervousness about exposing your creations in public in that way. Even if you know you can prove your originality, there's still an expensive and stressful legal process to go through. Hence my questions about what you pay for when you register a copyright.

I have filed many copyrights.

All you get is legal proof you filed and the date you filed, nothing more. Without it proof is a hard road.