Copyright
What do I already know about copyright?
- Copyright ensures that the media owner has explicit rights to use and perform their creative works.
- Copyright is often only valid for certain amounts of time, until the owner's death?
- It stops other people from stealing and using your work uncredited.
PRS for Music
"Copyright of a musical work begins automatically once a piece of music is created and documented or recorded. In the UK, this is detailed in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988."
I'm going to do some further research on the UK Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 and list it below here.
Evidence of ownership can be proved and created in a few different ways.
1. Mail or save a physical copy of the product in a way that can prove when it was created. Must be time-stamped and remain sealed.
2. Electronic mailing or saving also works as long as you can provide a time-stamped copy once again.
3. Finally, sending yourself a physical copy of your work using recorded delivery is the best way to do it as it's stronger evidence than an electronic time stamp since this technique contains your name.
Should you join PRS (Performing Right Society) as a member or the MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) you'll be giving permission for PRS to protect your rights and collect royalties on your behalf.
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Both recordings and musical compositions can be protected by copyright. So this includes harmonies, the melody and the compositions rhythm. Upon claiming copyright, you then have many rights to use regarding your work. It gives you exclusive usage towards the contents, the ability to create derivative works so you can create more content based around the original track or work. You can obtain the right to display and perform your work publicly.
Should you be caught using copyrighted work without permission, the owner can set punishments in motion, such as a monetary charge. For example, if one was to use copyrighted music in a Youtube video but they were not legally allowed, youtube could then make it impossible for the creator to make money off of ads from that video or money from the entire video itself, even if the song was only featured for a minute of it. It’s a very annoying procedure that’s best to avoid entirely.
I’ve been looking into copyright as we’re not sure if we’ll need it as a band. The trouble with paying for copyright protection as Glass Star is that we’re all equally part of it but it leaves the question of who will have to pay. As of right now, we don’t plan to officially release our EP until late june/ early july once we’ve done a couple more gigs and hopefully gained a bit more of a following but this is still something to think about and keep in mind.
https://www.prsformusic.com/works/how-copyright-works