What do you do with your songs after you've recorded them....

[bargeloobs]

Here's something you guys might want to look at. From my readings so far the way you are protecting your songs wouldn't fly in countries with specific copyright laws though it does look like you're part of the berne convention.

Copyrighting can be a real confusing issue but well worth it.

http://www.copyright.org.au/

Simple truth is, in my case, as far as protecting my material goes. I'm just too damn lazy.
As you could appreciate Rob, by the time I've written, performed the entire track and then produced it, there's simply no energy left to go fill out copyright forms.
Would definitely be worth it if I wasn't such a lazy a-hole, I guess I imagine if a time ever arose where someone decided to steal my material I'd just track em' down and beat them up, hehehehe just joking.

[Rob L]

Thanks Rob.
Copyright is a very murky lake to go for a swim in... Its full of crocs and sharks.

When I was at Art School we had a whole semester of copyright theory lessons... Upshot was if you really want to be certain you need to see a copyright shark..errrrm... Lawyer.....
It costs but it is a worthwhile investment!

US copyright has become quite easy. Can all be done online. Everything is explained. i know for me nothing is platted for anyone until it's protected. Hell even in every band I've been in the band doesn't hear a song of mine until protected.

[keloooe]

Yeah I've seen the US copyright procudure, but as Fretty said, we don't need a legally binding copyright, I actually mailed out a copy of my band's first song (we are still yet to re record it.... bugga!) to our lead vocalist and she is currently holding it just in case we need it, along with the email that I used to distribute the song. Again, poor man's copyright

[bargeloobs]

Hell even in every band I've been in the band doesn't hear a song of mine until protected.

Sounds kinda paranoid if you ask me:P

[Rob L]

Is it paranoia Barge when you see a local band selling a cd with one of your songs on it? A local band that I used to be in.
I don't write songs to just be given away. I'm not gonna put all that work into a song just to have someone else come along and claim it for himself.
I've been in the business to long. I trust few people. Musicians least of which.

Not trying to tell you all what to do. It's up to each of you. If doesn't bother you that your hard work could be stolen and used by someone else....I hope all your poor mans copyright work and you never find yourself on the losing end.

[pablopepper]

Have I seen a local band selling a CD with songs I've written on it? Yes. My old band. Those songs were written in that band, for that band. When I left the band, the understanding was I left the songs too. I also receive recognition and royalties as a writer of those songs. This, I believe, is the way it should be. I have always written songs according to the situation I am in at the time, and as a fan of many genres and styles, the songs are 99% of the time not transferable between bands.

[dave.king1]

Our stuff is all registered with APRA, my two band mates have been members since the early 1970s and I dropped out when I stopped gigging in 1981 but I'll probably rejoin because of the input I have with the instrumental side of their compositions.

More interested in the IP than any meagre royalties that may come along