Write up our alley

NC Piedmont Triad Edition

A Publication of The Community Arts Cafe, Inc.

Tips for songwriters from the Regional Workshop Coordinator of the Nashville Songwriters Association

For questions, comments & inquiries, contact Linne Black: linneblack@aol.com

A reader in Greensboro emailed the following question:

"I wrote a collection of songs a few months ago in May. I recorded them on tape and typed the lyric sheets on June 3rd. From what date do I have the "automatic" copyright on my songs? Is it the date that I wrote the songs? I need to know."

Answer: The automatic copyright protection begins the moment your song is 'fixed" by some tangible means. This could be a recording on either cassette, on cd, or in digital form, plus actually writing the lyrics down on paper. This date for your songs would be June 3rd.

Remember that your songs are not officially copyrighted until they are registered with the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. This involves filling out your information on the proper form and signing it, sending a recorded copy of your songs and the lyrics. There is a fee for doing this,but you can copyright a collection of multiple songs for only one fee.

Here is the contact information for the Library of Congress:
Library of Congress

S. Copyright Office

101 Independence Ave. S.E.
Washington, DC 20559-6000
(202) 707-3000 www.loc.gov/copyright

Lyrically yours,
Linne Black