PDA

View Full Version : Pauper's Copyright

defcon
05-23-2005, 04:59 PM
I have close to 200 songs/poems that I've written and I want to get them copyrighted and maybe shop them around. I've heard you can do a "poor man's copyright" by putting a copy of it in an envelope and having it postmarked. Anybody know anything about this, or any other ways I can do a low budget copyright of close to 200 songs?
Nitro1515
05-23-2005, 05:09 PM
www.ourmedia.org publishes, hosts and copyrights your work for you completely free.
AcE25
05-23-2005, 05:41 PM
You can do the poor man's copyright too. Just put them in a sealed envelope then mail them to yourself, then do not open it. Its not that bad to have them "officially" copywrited. You can put up to 200 works, i think thats the amount, into a copyright & the last I checked I think it is $75. That has been a few years since i looked into that though.
PilotC150
05-23-2005, 05:49 PM
The "poor man's copyright" will not hold up in court. Don't trust that to do anything for you. This has been discussed before and somebody quoted some case law proving it to be an unsafe method of copyright.
tdowe99
05-23-2005, 07:05 PM
The "poor man's copyright" will not hold up in court.
:thumbsup
defcon
05-23-2005, 07:33 PM
The "poor man's copyright" will not hold up in court. Don't trust that to do anything for you. This has been discussed before and somebody quoted some case law proving it to be an unsafe method of copyright.

I got the idea from an article I saw recently. Evidently Titney Spewers hit, "Sometimes" was actually written back in the late 70s by some guy who did this. He's suing her in federal court for millions, and the court actually agreed to hear it, so that's positive I guess.

Since I am becoming a lawyer, I guess I should just wait till 3 years later when I have my degree.

I do know that in the current state of affairs copyright and patent law is altogether nonsensical, so maybe the winds will change so that this type of copyright will hold up in court. I would submit that as a social reform those who do not have access to attorneys and resources that those with mucho casho should have some recourse to protect their legal rights. But welcome to America, money talks, bullsh1t walks. Stay, American Baby.
ZaqDiesel
05-24-2005, 10:51 AM
http://www.copyright.gov/

direct link to the library of congress copyright office. should answer all your questions. just pony up the money to copyright the songs. there is no such thing as a poor man's copyright as was said above. there are several different types of copyright, including composition, recording, live performance, etc.... you'll want to send in cds with you actually playing the song with copies of the lyrics. that will cover you.
deercreekdmb
05-24-2005, 03:04 PM
http://www.copyright.gov/

direct link to the library of congress copyright office. should answer all your questions. just pony up the money to copyright the songs. there is no such thing as a poor man's copyright as was said above. there are several different types of copyright, including composition, recording, live performance, etc.... you'll want to send in cds with you actually playing the song with copies of the lyrics. that will cover you.


i was lookin at this website and have a question...
so you put in the form, $30, and a copy of the material.... but do you have to copyrite each song?? ($30 per song on the album), or is it just $30 for the whole album???
tdowe99
05-24-2005, 03:37 PM
$30 for as much as you can fit on the CD.
werkinsnake
05-25-2005, 06:33 AM
This is great info Zaq. +1
ZaqDiesel
05-26-2005, 12:28 PM
glad to be of some help :) i went through this with my old band a few years ago.
defcon
05-26-2005, 01:04 PM
http://www.copyright.gov/

direct link to the library of congress copyright office. should answer all your questions. just pony up the money to copyright the songs. there is no such thing as a poor man's copyright as was said above. there are several different types of copyright, including composition, recording, live performance, etc.... you'll want to send in cds with you actually playing the song with copies of the lyrics. that will cover you.

Thanks! I don't know why I couldn't have thought of this sooner...I guess I thought the U.S. Gov't was too good for me, imagine that! I'm definitely going to follow through on this - especially once I start law school and learn more.