Research > Guides > Music Copyright > Register a Copyright for Music
How to Register a Copyright for Music
"In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. "
Library of Congress Copyright Basics
Why register copyright?
Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim.
Is the copyright symbol required?
Though the copyright symbol is no longer required for protection, it is beneficial:
"Use of the notice may be important because it informs the public that the work is protected by copyright, identifies the copyright owner, and shows the year of first publication. Furthermore, in the event that a work is infringed, itf the work carries a proper notice, the court will not give any weight to a defendant's interposition of an innocent infringement defence -- that is, that he or she did not realize that the work was protected. An innocent infringement defense may result in a reduction in damages that the copyright owner would otherwise receive." -from Circular 3: Copyright Notice (pdf). US Copyright Office.
Online Copyright Registration Forms:
Form PA Performing Arts: Form PA (Performing Arts)
For registration purposes, musical compositions and dramatic works that are recorded on disks or cassettes are works of the performing arts and should be registered on Form PA or Short Form PA. Therefore, if you wish to register only the underlying work that is a musical composition or dramatic work, use Form PA even though you may send a disk or cassette.
Form SR Sound Recordings Form SR (Sound Recordings)
Use Form SR for registration of published or unpublished sound recordings, that is, for registration of the particular sounds or recorded performance. Form SR must also be used if you wish to make one registration for both the sound recording and the underlying work (the musical composition, dramatic, or literary work). You may make a single registration only if the copyright claimant is the same for both the sound recording and the underlying work. In this case, the authorship statement in Space 2 should specify that the claim covers both works. Form SR is also the appropriate form for registration of a multimedia kit that combines two or more kinds of authorship including a sound recording (such as a kit containing a book and an audiocassette).
For Further Reading Bibliography of books about music copyright in the Multnomah County Library, Internet guides, and online laws and treaties.
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