Please help me. I want to copyright lyrics for an Anti-Bu$h song I wrote.

[wildwww2]

And I have no idea what steps to take. Once I get it done of course I will share them with everyone here.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Liberal In Texas]

1. I've explored this to a pretty great extent...

Basically, you write the copyright symbol, your name and date on the manuscript, or sheet music. It's copyrighted.

You don't have to go through the mail it to yourself and don't open the envelope, lock it in a safety box, etc. You do not have to send it to some government agency.

Once you say it's copyrighted. It is.

[northzax]

5. the only time you need to do the mail to yourself thing

or to an attorney (even better) is when you are copywriting an idea, something that someone else might come up with, or steal from you, and you want to establish a time of creation. Like say I have an idea for a movie, write a treatment and mail it out to Sony. they don't buy it, but make a movie with the exact same premise. I can demonsrate that I had the idea on x date.

[Liberal In Texas]

7. Yes, most of all that is establishing some degree of proof that you wrote

it before Joe Blow did.

Even giving a copy or two to your mother, brother, some friends is a pretty good idea. They can always testify in court on your behalf.

Of course, a lawyer or some receipt from SONY is even better. If you have the bucks for the attorney or will take the chance SONY will even return your letter, OK fine.

[wildwww2]

6. Cool thanks. I will post it later in this thread then.

Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Inland]

2. when you publish the text

Put symbol, your name, year

such as Copyright Inland 2005

or (C) Inland 2005

[democracyindanger]

3. Automaticaly copyrighted when created

http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#hsc

Copyright Secured Automatically upon Creation
The way in which copyright protection is secured is frequently misunderstood. No publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure copyright. (See following Note.) There are, however, certain definite advantages to registration. See "Copyright Registration."

Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, and a work is "created" when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time. "Copies" are material objects from which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or with the aid of a machine or device, such as books, manuscripts, sheet music, film, videotape, or microfilm. "Phonorecords" are material objects embodying fixations of sounds (excluding, by statutory definition, motion picture soundtracks), such as cassette tapes, CDs, or LPs. Thus, for example, a song (the "work") can be fixed in sheet music (" copies") or in phonograph disks (" phonorecords"), or both.

If a work is prepared over a period of time, the part of the work that is fixed on a particular date constitutes the created work as of that date.

[Liberal In Texas]

4. Exactly right

I recall going to Kinko's to have my own manuscript copied. It, of course, had in the upper left corner of each chapter the copyright notice and date etc.

I had to sign some sort of affidavit that it was my work or had permission to copy.

Kind of glad they're that careful, actually.

[1monster]

8. Take it to a notery with an evelope. Make two copies to be noterized.

One goes into the evenlope with the date and time stamped on it and the noterized seal stating the envelope was sealed in his/her presence on that date and time. Put both of them in a safe place (a safe or safety deposit box...)

[wildwww2]

9. Thanks everybody. Here it is.

"His Braindeadedness" (C)Wildwww2 music 2005

I feel a song brewing along
I see a right-wing ape like jerk
thinks he can do no wrong
He`s got his head in the trees
Say`s we can use less of these
Besides he`s got those timber lobbyist`s to appease

Chorus
___________________________________________________
If ya think "His Braindeadedness" has the Solution
Why have judges usurp the constitution?
Man of God. Corporate Profit War.
Jesus pities Iraq. Of that I am sure
________________________________________________


Seems I`m lost in a crime
Or maybe thrown back in time
CEO fascism drowned by the sublime
Yes now is the day
Liberals kneel down and pray
Crazed right-wing wackos don`t come and cart us away

Chorus

So if to kill is a sin
Yes now where should we begin
Lame excuses for a war crime wearin` thin
The election smells of a hack
Once again stabbed in the back
Manure they call morals you could stack

Chorus

The way we`re led makes me frown
Cowboyesque holy war clown
These hearts and mind liars must go down
Pre-emptive strikes are not brave
Well I guess to a blind slave
Peace on earth`s not accomplished thru the grave

Chorus

I hear the train Engineer is insane
Work so hard at soundin` stupid wastes the brain
The scapegoats aren`t hard to find
His mom`s beautiful mind
Making sure the buck never stops at his behind

Chorus
_________________________________________________

I have banged out some music to go with it on my Yamaha keyboard
But I am not computer wise enough to share it with you that way although I have been practicing alot lately at singing it a playing at the same time but I have a long way to go in that respect And can`t share it with you all that way yet. Thanks again for everyones help.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President