JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum Copyright words and music separately???

Well, if you want to pay twice as much for a copyright, go for it, otherwise, the advice is nonsense.

Also, the advice demonstrates lack of knowledge of what a copyright is. A registration with the copyright office is NOT a copyright. It is just a protection of the copyright which was created the moment the song was put in "tangible" form, either on sheet music, or an audio recording. Once they are put to tangible form, the lyric and music are inextricably bound, unless there is something in writing and mutually agreed upon that states otherwise. This is why I have a collaboration agreement with collaborators which has language that states "both parties agree that a state of copyright does not exist until the composer registers the copyright with the copyright office" because if I allow a lyricists lyrics to be put to my song, I want to get feedback on words and music together before I allow a binding copyright to exist.

In fact, some might argue your registration is a waste of money until you release the song, because the odds of someone stealing is farely remote.

Becuase my melodies are composed long before anyone puts words to them, I copyright the music indepedent of any words and music version. I do this because when lyrics zre added at a later date, that version will exist as a "derivative" of the original. A derivative copyright is one where the lyricist registers the copyright of the words and music but, on the copyright application, excludes the music from protection ( it's already registered and the registration number is referenced in the exclusion section in the application ). As a derivative, the gives me the freedom to find another lyric, if it is proven ( by my own determination ) that the lyric is holding the melody down. I do this because Im not as good at judging lyrics as I am music and don't trust my own judgement, I let others and feedback tell me. Often, the feedback from friends is not as good as the professionals in the industry ( but the reverse, indeed, could be true, as well ).