Another copyrights thread

[James H.]

I ran across an ad on Facebook for this site:

Protect Your Music - By Musicians, For Musicians

Has anybody ever heard of it? Used it? Know somebody that used it? I'm not about to myself, but I just thought I'd ask since I know a lot of people (including myself) are always wondering about ways to safely get your stuff copyrighted. Basically, who can you trust? Is that site trustable? Is ASCAP better? Who CAN'T you trust? Anybody?

[Gardener]

Click on the link above to "learn how it works" and you will receive a FREE report on the benefits of Copyrighting music and other tips on protecting your valuable assest -- your music.

I can't trust any company that refers to my music as the superlative of donkey.

[JoshMc]

I don't get why you would need that site to copyright your work when you can just fill out the form and send it to the federal copyright office. Maybe I'm missing something, but I would only get a copyright from a site that ends in .gov.

I can't trust any company that refers to my music as the superlative of donkey.

LOL, well put.

[Plutokat]

Thats a scam. It screams scam.

[OmarSanchez]

I ran across an ad on Facebook for this site:

Protect Your Music - By Musicians, For Musicians

Has anybody ever heard of it? Used it? Know somebody that used it? I'm not about to myself, but I just thought I'd ask since I know a lot of people (including myself) are always wondering about ways to safely get your stuff copyrighted. Basically, who can you trust? Is that site trustable? Is ASCAP better? Who CAN'T you trust? Anybody?

ASCAP doesn't do that stuff, however they have filing tools as a member benefit that you can purchase

OFFICIAL COPYRIGHT ONLINE FILING TOOLS

Official Software is offering ASCAP members an exclusive 20% discount on its award-winning Official Copyright online filing service and Official Trademark Software, available to ASCAP members through ASCAP's customized web portal with Official Software. Through ASCAP's portal, you will have access to the Official Copyright online web site, where you have access to all the tools you need to easily file and manage your copyright registrations for the life of your work with the US Copyright Office. From original music, lyrics to videos and CD art work, you can easily file you application with Official's step-by- step printable SMART forms or upload your works and file online through Official's new online filing service. The Official Trademark software is downloadable from the web site and provides everything you need to also file a Federal trademark application to protect the value in your business name, web site or band name. Don't wait to file! Sign on today with your ASCAP membership number for immediate access:

https://www.officialsoftware.com/ascap/

ASCAP has nothing to do with copyright, they are a performing rights organization who collect your royalty payments. If you want to copyright something there are 3 things.

1. US Copyright office, you do it alone
   
2. US Copyright office, a publisher does it
   
3. Poor man's copyright.

Even w/o copyright from the copyright office, its still protected. Once the composition is started, it is automatically copyrighted....the US Copyright office is optional and its just for more protection. Either way, its protected by law....the US Copyright office registration makes it your proof...w/o it, if you have a copyright case...you need to prove it yourself. Like me, I have a contract with someone though, so that is my proof...

[theOmaster]

Does just having notes of your ideas count as proof? Both electronic notes and on paper. I mean, if I can prove I worked on it on such and such date, and made these notes. Would that not be proof enough to say "this is MY work."

[maestrowick]

As the law states, any engraved form is your copyright, i.e. sheet music, recordings, digital file. If you just need a "time code" of some sort with printed music, you can have a notary notarize it. Their seal/stamp verifies the date.

The Registar's Office is the same thing, except it's on the master database.