How Music Copyright Works

Although music copyright is automatic — attaching as soon as original material is put into tangible form, if your song is stolen you'll still need certifiable proof of (1) when your song copyright protection took effect and (2) the precise content of the material at that time.

So never play or distribute songs before registering them with a professional registration service such as SongRegistration® or the Copyright Office.

This memorializes the three key elements in all music copyright disputes: (1) Content, (2) Tangible-Form Date, and (3) Chain-of-Custody. (Other claimed registration services, providing only blockchain hashes or computer date-stamps, do not establish these elements, particularly chain-of-custody evidence.)

And forget about the "poor man's copyright" (or a CD's date-stamp). Neither offers reliable evidence! Read why here.

As the first and original independent online registration service, we offer a low one-time fee (never recurring payments), top security, worldwide public registries, and a 15-year impeccable track record. And, of course, a no-questions-asked full money-back guarantee!