Conference napalm::commusic_v1

	Do you mean copywrite songs or patenting ideas?
	John

	ps. I've been involved copywriting songs in my last band
	    so I've got that information, but patenting ideas
	    (electronic, process) is pretty involved/expensive
	    you'd have to have a 'patent search' done, and
	    a witness for your idea (one who understands your
	    idea/circuit) and other things.


	John

 Hello

Call your local United States Federal Government General Services
Administration and ask for Copyright Form PA (for performing arts).
I registered for copyright a couple of my pieces, the Duos to Webern
for two clarinets, and Five Pieces After Jazz for Piano and wind solo.
When I visited the Library of Congreess laast month (I am new to the
east, and was visiting my borhter in washington), I saw the index
cards for my pieces (in the Madison Bilding nopt the Jefferson building
of the Library of Congress).  If you want a real turn on, look up your
copyright registration cards in the Library of Congress.
Anyway, they couldn't show my music because it takes a long time to get it.
They take all the orders for copyright registered stuff that people want to
see every Tuesday and Thuyrsday, and go get it.  It takes a few days.
I was there on Tuesday, so action would have started Thursday, and
would take about a week.  I was leaving the next day, so I didn't get to
see my scores to make sure the system works.  All copyright registration
(the verb is register, not copyright.  copyright is a noun) does is to
have the Federal Government of the United States of America back you up
when you claim you had a certain piece of music at a particular time,
i.e., at the time you registered it.

Under the old law, it was $3, and I had to send a copy.  I then wrote on
my music, copyright 1973 Thomas E. Janzen unpublished.  (There was a 
small difference in registered published or unpublished.)  Under teh
new law, it is more expensive and troublesome, but not too bad.
It is interesting to note that the patent requirement for a working
model was abandoned about a hundred years ago when most of the
models held were destroyed by fire.  The inventor of the laser thought
that he had to have a working model, so he didn't patent soon enough.
That may still be in court.  In any case, patenting music is not 
allowed I bet, but you could patent a musical instrument, perhaps for
as little as the cost of a full microcomputer system $2K.

Tom

Note that copyrighting a PERFORMANCE, say by sending in a tape,
does not protect the COMPOSITION.  A composition can also be
registered with a tape, but you use a different form.

I'd like to copyright a composition by sending a tape....What is the correct
form and where do I get it?....Thanks....
				*db*

See note 49.2.  I called the GSA office in Boston and got a brochure 
and some forms.  That will answer a lot of questions and raise more, 
but at least when you call them back, you can refer to chapter and verse.

    I've looked at notes 314 and 1604 and there doesn't seem to be anyplace
    where anyone has spelled out the answers to the following.  (Saying
    get form Copyright Form PA doesn't answer them!)
    
    What do you have to send in to copyright a song with the form?
    	A tape?
    	A written score?
    	What's the difference?
    	How long does it take until I can say "registered at the US. Copy..."?
       
    What is the difference between putting "Copyright 1989 Joe Shmoe"
    on your distribution media and sending it in to the Library of Congress?
    
    I called something like 'Register of Copyright assistance' in DC
    at 202-749-0700 and didn't really get these questions answered.  I was
    told that putting the copyright notice on the media is the 'real thing'
    and that the registration is just a 'formality'.
    
    Thanks,
    Tim

    You better pick up the recent issue of Electronic Musician (the one
    with the Guitar effects articles) and read the article about changes in
    the copyright law.  The US is now a signatory to the Berne convention,
    which changes lots of things.  Like you don't have to put a notice on
    things to be protected.  (But you still might want to put it on to
    reduce the nuisance of going after everybody who inadvertantly
    infringes.)

You never had to have the notice in the past to be protected for 
unpublished works.  This copyright stuff is ever complicated.

Chad

    
    
    A few answers....
    
    You can send in either a tape and/or a written score.  Your preference.
    Send form PA if its written material, and form SR if its a recording.
    
    The difference between just labeling your work "� 1989 Joe Shmoe"
    and registering it (besides the $10) is that registering it allows
    you to sue for damages should your work be stolen.  Simply marking
    it will allow you to stop further distribution of the stolen work,
    but wouldn't guarantee you any monetary reward through the courts.
    
    Ralph
                          

    RE: .9
    
    Right.  You are supposedly protected as long as it is marked.  However,
    establishing actual dates and what is derivative from what can be
    a nightmare in the future.  It is well worth the $10 to get a
    performing arts copyright registered.  
    
    There is a paragraph somewhere in the brochure that seems to imply
    that under some circumstances that registration is required. I'll
    try to find it tonight and enter a note tomorrow.
    
    Alex

    A couple months ago national public radio's all things inconsiderate
    had a reporter who walked through the archives (read "warehouse") in
    maryland (I think there are two, in andover and another place) where
    all your stuff and mine is kept.  They ridiculed it and made fun of it
    as the futile gestures of mediocre artists all over the country, and
    the fact that most of it would remain unknown forever and ever.
    the curator didn't stand up for us at all.
    Tom

    In Denmark (?) they'll buy all the "futile gestures..."
    
    Edd

    re: .9 PA vs SR
    
    Wrong.
    
    A form PA (performing arts) is used to register a work that is music,
    words or words and music, you can submit a tape or a written score
    (they prefer a tape).
    
    A for SR (sound recording) registers that specific performance of the
    work.
    
    
    For simplicity do this:
    
    Get a form PA, fill it out. Enclose a check for $10.00 along with a
    tape or score and mail it to the Register of Copyrights, Library of
    Congress, Washington D.C. 20559.
    
    The Library of Congress has a anice handout that explains what each
    form is for and how to submit them to register your work, ask for
    circular R1.
    
    Expect to get a registration notice about 3-5 months after you submit
    the forms/check. If you're real paranoid about it, send it registered
    mail to get a receipt for the package the copyright is then documented
    as of that date, even if it takes them months to process it. Alos
    expect that every scumbag "record company" from LA will barrage you
    with requests for you to send them your work and money to front it for
    you or some other ridiculous crap, essentially they get your money,
    promise nothing and rarely deliver if the Maine State Attourney General
    is to be believed. For a fun exercise you can write them back asking
    for details on exactly what they'll do for you, the result runs from
    silence to some interesting exercises in verbosity without content.
    
    I have R1, I have PA if you need it....
    
    dbii

    
    
    re .13
    
    Isn't that what I said?  SR if you're copyrighting the recording
    (performance) of the work, and PA if your copywriting the material
    itself.  I think you misinterpreted my use of "written material".
    Sorry for any confusion.
    
    Ralph
    
    

    
    According to the instructions for filling out Form SR:
    
    "When to Use This Form:  Use Form SR for copyright registration of
    published or unpublished sound recordings.  It should be used where
    the copyright claim is limited to the sound recording itself, and it
    may also be used where the same copyright claimant is seeking 
    simultaneous registration of the underlying musical, dramatic, or
    literary work embodied in the phonorecord."
    
    A subsequent section discusses the submission requirements.  For 
    published works, you must submit two phonorecords.  Phonorecords
    are objects embodying the fixation of sounds.  Tapes and phonograph 
    disks (commonly called phonograph records) are given as examples of
    phonorecords.
    
    Based on this, you may want to use Form SR if you want to register a 
    copyright on the underlying work *and* the sound recording.
    
    ***********************************************************************
    
    On the other hand, if you are only concerned about the underlying work,
    you can use Form PA:
    
    "When to Use This Form:  Use Form PA for registration of published
    or unpublished works of the performing arts.  This class includes 
    works prepared for the purpose of being "performed" directly before 
    an audience or indirectly "by means of any device or process." Works 
    of the performing arts include (1) musical works, including any 
    accompanying words; (2) dramatic works, including any accompanying
    music; (3) pantomimes and choreographic works; and (4) motion pictures
    and other audiovisual works.
    
    As with Form SR, a subsequent section discusses the submission
    requirements.  For published works, you must submit either two copies 
    (something that can be visually perceived, such as a written score) or 
    two phonorecords.
    
    
    The above information is from the copies of these forms included in
    "This Business of Music."
    
    The usual disclaimers apply (I'm not a lawyer, etc.).
    
    
    								John

    OK. Thanks for info so far.  Another question...
    I have to send a tape (with copyright notice) - seems easy.  I also
    have to include a lyric sheet with copyright.  The question is
    how to word this, the music is not on the page - it's only on the tape.
    
    Words Copyright 1989 Joe smith
    Words and Music Copyright 1989 Joe Smith
    
    or whatever.  Anyone know the correct way to do this?
    
    As a side note (it's probably in one ofthe other notes but just in case)
    When indicating copyright, if you want to use the copyright symbol
    (small 'c' in a circle), you cannot use parens like, (c) , I've been told
    it is not binding.
    
    Tim
    

    Yes, the safest thing is to use both the c in a circle and the full
    word "copyright" e.g., 
     
                    Words and Music Copyright � 1989 Joe Smith
                                         
    Alex