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kaiu3
Aloha
USA
15 Posts |
 Posted - 08/09/2010 : 12:15:48 PM
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Aloha Kakou
I took up music about 4 or five years ago, taking 'olelo Hawai'i and mele ukulele classes, which jump started me into writing a number of songs, enough to put on a CD or DVD at present....I have performed a few of my songs on the open mic platform previously and was cautioned to get those songs copyrighted....since that time, I have written a number of other songs.....They range from Hawaiian, hapa, country/rock/blues....mostly of my & my 'ohana experience....kden so much for the back ground....As I stated, I am a baby when it comes to the music industry, but I think I have some terrific material here and would like some kokua on this subject.....I was told if I just made a CD of these songs and registered with the copyright department in DC, go the post office or fedex and send registered mail to myself and not open the contents, that's all it takes...My very first song I wrote was in the country roads melody, which I still like, oh by the way, but after being told by my young kumu, Bobo Kalei Miles, "Uncle you need to write your own music" As I stated to him that I had no music back ground, he still insisted that I would find my own melodies to all my songs that I composed....So young and talented is Bobo and so much wisdom.....He has been correct thus far....All my songs are written with guitar chords and I play Baritone ukulele as my accompanying instrument....
Mahalo
Bobby Ka'iu
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bob delaura |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 1:30:37 PM
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I just registered a few songs. There's a fair amount of verbiage to wade through, but basically if you have recordings of your song you can copyright them either individually or as part of a collection, then either upload the songs online or send a CD to the copyright office.
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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kaiu3
Aloha
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 3:07:00 PM
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Aloha e Fran
Mahalo for you reply....I think I'll record a CD with these songs on them for copyright...insofar as the paperwork, I guess I'll find out what it entails...
Mahalo |
bob delaura |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2010 : 12:17:16 PM
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Just saw your post.
A couple of thoughts:
First off, thanks to the Copyrights Revision of 1976, your songs are automatically copyrighted to you simply by virtue of writing them down or recording them.
The reason one goes to the trouble of registering a copyright is to prove you wrote it as of such and such a date. The "People's Copyright," -- sending yourself a registered letter -- sorta does the same thing, but the protection isn't as strong.
That being said, the chances of having your song stolen are vanishingly small. Sure it happens (ask Chuck Berry), but unless a) your songs are really, really good (and of course they are... ) and b) your songs are likely to be heard by someone with both the ability to profit from them and the mindset to do so illegally, you are probably safe.
I've been playing original music for years, and I've never had a song appropriated and passed off as someone else's work. Neither has anyone I know, and I know a ton of songwriters.
But one thing struck me: you said one of your songs is set to the music of "Country Roads." If that is the case, you cannot copyright the song. Why? because John Denver's estate & publisher owns the words and melody. You cannot make a derivative work without permission. (That includes satires.... ask Weird Al.)
So go ahead and register your songs with the copyright office. It's pretty EZ, doesn't cost much, and it really feels good when you realize that your work is now a permanent part of the the public record.
Good luck with your music and your songwriting, and say hello to Kalae for me.
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Edited by - Mark on 08/15/2010 12:19:21 PM |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 10:23:23 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark
JYou cannot make a derivative work without permission. (That includes satires.... ask Weird Al.)
Hey Mark, that's actually not true...the Fair Use Doctrine allows for parodies. Weird Al gets permission as a courtesy to the original artists and because his record label doesn't feel like taking the risk of having to duke it out with other labels to prove a legal point. There's some interesting reading about it here, including reference to the infamous court case that established parodies as fair use:
http://tmcentlawforum.blogspot.com/2006/07/weird-al-yankovic-vs-those-who-do-not.html |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 12:21:32 PM
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Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression that parodies did not pass muster under Fair Use. The 1994 decision is new to me.
Look's like I'm covered for my song "I'm an Average Guy," which is a parody of "I'm An Old Cowhand." Which is itself a parody, but never mind..
"Fair Use" get's kicked around a lot, and many times it is safer to err on the side of caution.
Think I'll go sample some James Brown... naw, better to sample some nice Applegate Valley Syrah. |
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Copyright assistance
