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Hi Daniel,

There is a common false premise that a song is not copyrighted until it is lodged and accepted with the US Library Of Congress. The truth is, that when you write a song it automatically belongs to you and in a practical sense, you own the copyright. The reason for lodging the song with the US LOC is to be able to show, for legal reasons, that you wrote the song and when you wrote it.

Here in Australia, we don't have a copyright library. Our Copyright Council only advises about copyright - it doesn't store copyrighted material. When I write a song I immediately lodge the details with APRA (Australasian Performers Rights Association - our PRO) and then when I have a few really great songs ready, I send them off to the US LOC as a 'compilation' for official record of my ownership/copyright on those songs.

I disagree with Mark regarding 'poor mans copyright'. This method of sealing the CD recording and/or lyric in a self-addressed envelope and having the post office date stamp over the seal, is a great way of proving that you are in possession the song from that date. The issue with using this method is the same as with any other method. When push comes to shove, you need to be able to prove that you wrote it. There is no fool-proof method really - unless you write the song in a public arena where other people can attest to you having written it in front of them (co-writers, songwriter group session, in front of an audience etc). In the past, when using the 'poor mans copyright' method, I would never use JUST that method on its own. I always lodge the details of the work with my PRO, and if I think the song has a really good shot at being pitched and/or cut, I also lodge it with the US LOC.