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So, you want to know how to copyright your music and/or lyrics, hu?
Well, here is the information you will need to do so, directly from The U.S. Copyright Office:
Claims to copyright in either published or unpublished musical
works may be registered in the Copyright Office. To apply for
registration, send the following material in the same envelope or
package to the Register of Copyrights, Copyright Office, Library
of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20559:
1. A correctly completed application form (application is to be downloaded); and
The forms submitted to the Copyright Office must be clear, legible, and on a good grade of 8.5-inch by 11-inch white paper.
The quality of the copyright application forms submitted for registration directly affects the quality of the copyright registration
certificate you receive. The Copyright Office produces completed registration certificates through an optical scanning system
that utilizes an image scanned from the original application submitted. As a result copyright applications submitted that are of
poor print quality will negatively affect the print quality of the copyright registration certificate you receive. For these reasons,
the utmost effort should be made to submit the best quality application form possible.
Published collections of musical works and all of the
copyrightable elements of a unit of publication may be registered
on a single form with a single fee if all of the compositions are
owned by the same copyright claimant.
Unpublished collections of two or more musical works can be
submitted for registration on a single form with a single fee and
deposit of one complete copy or phonorecord only if all of the
conditions are met as specified under the topic heading
"Collections of Music" in Circular 50. Registration of an
unpublished collection of compositions extends to each
copyrightable selection in the collection, but only the collection
title appears in the Copyright Office catalogs and indexes. A
separate registration for each musical work results in a separate
record of the individual title of work in the catalogs and indexes
of the Copyright Office. A separate registration also may simplify
identification of the work for purposes of licensing, transfer,
permission, and distribution of royalties.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, write or call the Copyright Office and
request: Circular 50, "Copyright Registration for Musical
Compositions," which includes information on Form PA and/or
Circular 56, "Copyright for Sound Recordings," which includes
information on Form SR.
Additional questions about copyright problems involving musical
compositions or sound recordings may be addressed to the
Copyright Office
FORMS AND CIRCULARS HOTLINE
NOTE: Requesters may order application forms and circulars at any
time by telephoning (202) 707-9100. Orders will be recorded
automatically and filled as quickly as possible.
2. A $20.00 nonrefundable filing fee for each application; and
3. A nonreturnable deposit of the work to be registered.Important Printing Instructions:
The forms should be printed head to head (top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page
1) using BOTH SIDES of a single sheet of paper. NOTE: Short forms are one sided. Dot matrix printer copies of the forms
are not acceptable. Inkjet printer copies of the forms require enlarging if you use the Shrink to Fit Page option. To achieve the
best quality copies of the application forms, it is recommended that you use a Laser Printer.
LM-455
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000:
To speak with a Copyright Information Specialist, call
(202) 707-3000.
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