Maybe you have been making beats or writing songs for some time. It is time you take your artist career to a professional level. First, you need to copyright your music. For instance, celtic woman believe cd is copyrighted in the U.K. To do this, you need to know and understand what a music copyright is and the way it works.
What is a copyright?
Copyright is legally defined as “exclusive economic right to license, make copies, or exploit musical, literary, or artistic work, whether video, audio, or printed.” This means that you have exclusive rights to your work. For example, if you made something and every person has a right to use it or sell it without paying you, very few people would make anything at all.
What can you copyright?
To copyright any work, it ought to be original and adequate to be regarded as work. This means that you should not copy someone else’s work and present it as yours.
How to get a copyright
Under the copyright law, after you make a tangible copy of something, then you have a copyright. Tangible in this case means something, which can be touched and seen. It is not a must to register to get a copyright, but there are certain rights you enjoy when you register. However, securing a copyright is not one of them.
The rights you get
If you have a copyright to work, it means you are entitled to these rights at no cost:
- Reproduce the work
- Perform the work on public
- Make derivate works
- Distribute copies of your work
Thus, if you are a songwriter, singer, or producer, you need to understand what the copyright is and the way to use it. If you make a beat or write a song, then you own the copyrights when you first make a tangible copy. If you want to protect your copyright, then you should register your work with the relevant authority.
Music copyright registration
As said above, a copyright acts as proof that your work is original and is not copied from another person or source. Nowadays, there are several ways you can register your songs with U.S. copyright office. This can protect you and the songs from another person who is interested in stealing your creative work.
If you are planning to register the copyright, you should visit the Copyright Office in your state. You can also register your work online.