I'll add my 2-Cents-Worth in...

IF your material is UN-Published, you get a PA-UN Copyright BACK from the (C) Office. IF It's an Anthology, yeah, read ALL the Requirements FIRST.

My Understanding is MOST Publishers'll ONLY want 1-2 songs OFF that Anthology, and THEY'll file for the PA and SR Copyrights AS "Single Songs". You still hold (C) on all the rest of the Anthology, UNLESS your Contract from the Publisher states Otherwise.

As for that "a-Priori" basis for WHO Wrote That Song FIRST, I've for the last Decade posted lyrics HERE...simply to PROVE "Date and Authorship" should there EVER Be a Question. I'm more than a little sure this'll hold up in court.

And YES, IF you file for a Full-Blown US Copyright Office PA or SR, you're for-sure covered. But..you've just saved your Publisher a chunk of His Time & Money/Let them Earn Their 50% I always say. The odds of Your Song being RECOGNIZABLY-Lifted are pretty slim. (You'll then be forced to prove Authorship AND Access...and fork-over about $20K for the Average Infringement Suit..from what I've read.) SO..UNLESS someone steals a BIG Hit from ya..AND makes a PILE of loot from it (Pretty rare these days) it's not VERY Worth-the-Filing...Unless you're REAL SURE "This Is IT!!!"

Oh..and IF you're working with an Indie Artist...(as I have in the past) THEY, TOO..can file for the SR (C)...and Voila..HIS "Collection" costs just ONE Filing Fee..& You Are Covered, Bigtime..IF He/She is The CO-Writer.

All Gleaned from The School of Hard Knocks, & yep, IANAL...but even THOSE Guys can't agree 'til a Judge Sorts It All Out!!!

Good Luck/Pen some Good, WORTH-Copyrighting Stuff...& then Your Publisher gets stuck with the Bills!

Best Wishes/Big Hugs,
Stan

Last edited by "Tampa Stan" Good; 10/11/10 06:52 PM.