can someone please advise me the best way to copyright my song? (lyrics, arrangment and melody)

Whats the best agency/union I need to join? Im not a signed artist and I am confused....!!


cheers !

Join PRS if you can.

Cheapest and easiest way is probably to go on to Websongs which says on their site;

[color=#0000FF]
Copyright Registration

The websongs Copyright Registration service has been set up to meet the needs of music creators who haven't, until now, had anywhere that they can register their copyrights instantaneously online. Use the websongs copyright registration service to register the copyright of your song or composition at any time. Once you have listed your song or composition on websongs, the Copyright Registration feature will be available to use in your My Account page. You can upload either the music and lyrics in PDF format or an mp3 file if you have recorded a demo of the song. Once the copyright has been registered, you will receive a date and time stamped registration certificate as proof of copyright registration with websongs.

Using this service will be subject to a fee of

If your material has been played on the radio, you can join the PRS as a pro member...get the DJ to write and sign a note confirming the plays. If not, join as an associate member, which will entitle you to register your songs. Also worth joining the Brit Academy.

In any event, make sure you post a copy of everything to yourself with the envelope date stamped.

Big End wrote:
In any event, make sure you post a copy of everything to yourself with the envelope date stamped.Ah, the old fave. The only problem is proof of when you sealed it. Someone I know worked for a Publisher who many years ago sent a massive batch of envelopes to himself with the flap just tucked in. When he finds something he likes he pops it in one of these envelopes, seals it and voila, he owned it in 1985!

I'm also told that this method has never been used as evidence in a court case.

I was under the impression the "send it to yourself" thing had never been tested in Court.

Solicitors regard it as little better than useless... but then again they may well say that

One I actually did, was deposit a master tape in a high street bank vault.



Pause for canned laughter, it`s all in the timing you know...

Ah, never been used in Court? Perhaps some evidence of ownership makes sure things get settled quickly? In any event, join the PRS.

A little technical detail that is of some significance: even registering it with the PRS is not proof that you wrote it, only proof that you registered it. Other people might still have a perfectly valid claim that they wrote or co-wrote it, such as former band members with demos from years ago, etc.

But still, I always register the stuff with my rights body anyway.

Big End wrote:
Ah, never been used in Court? Perhaps some evidence of ownership makes sure things get settled quickly? In any event, join the PRS.Are you suggesting that due to it being in a date stamped sealed envelope that this has stopped the case going to court? If so, this either means that the other party believed that what was in the sealed envelope was a recording of the song or that the owner willingly opened the envelope and played the material without witnesses.

Pretty dumb move don't you think? A move that would surely result in the other party saying, "OK, now we've done away with your evidence we'll see you in court".

Scenario, Court One..

"So Mr Pachelbel, are you saying that the music contained in the bank vault , envelope and registered with PRS contains exactly the same chord sequence as "Let it Be", "Don`t Look Back In Anger" the Hamlet advert(!)"Stand By Me" and many other million selling classics?"

Don't knock those chords - I've written most of them myself (including "Silver Cannon" - Pachelbel's out of time!).

I really don't think I can explain this any clearer, but here it is by numbers:

1. Put CD in envelope.
2. Get the post office to stamp and date mark the envelope.
3. Mail it to yourself.
4. Keep in safe place.
5. Register the song with PRS.
6. Rip off merchant blags your tune...usually a producer and/or co-writer.
7. Do not open envelope unless you are with your solicitor.
8. File!
9. Case settled out of court.
10. What part of the above do you not understand? I really would be happy to explain further if you like.