How To Copyright Your Song
Notice: Rhythmic Rebellion/Patron Empowerment is NOT giving you legal advice.
We provide information only. Hiring an attorney is a good idea in certain situations. We are not liable for results pertaining to the information we provide.
Our understanding is that the courts will not consider a copyright infringement suit unless you have a copyright registration for your song.
Here is a link for initial registration: https://www.copyright.gov/registration/
As a songwriter, you need to copyright the music composition which includes things like melody, timing, chords structure, lyrics and so on. These are things you could write out and someone could sit down with your music sheet and play the song on piano or guitar. You are not copyrighting a recording. However, the next section tells you that you can use Form SR and a sound recording to copyright "the underlying musical, dramatic, or literary work embodied in the phonorecord." Which means they will use your recording as proof of copyright for the music composition. We are NOT giving legal advice and you need to decide for yourself the correct copyright method.
The following text is from the link below as of Feb 28, 2020.
When to Use This Form: Use Form SR for registration of published or unpublished sound recordings. Form SR should be used when 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.
https://www.copyright.gov/forms/formsr.pdf
When to Use This Form: Use Form SR for registration of published or unpublished sound recordings. Form SR should be used when 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.
https://www.copyright.gov/forms/formsr.pdf
Another option is to use Form PA which copyrights only the underlying music composition.
The following text is from the link below, as of Feb 28, 2020:
When to Use This Form: Use Form PA for registration of published or unpublished works of the performing arts.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.
https://www.copyright.gov/forms/formpa.pdf
The following text is from the link below, as of Feb 28, 2020:
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.
https://www.copyright.gov/forms/formpa.pdf