Never Completely Paid for Original Music Composition (Publicly Played Multiple Times)

As have you,I have only heard about a poor mans patent/ copy right.I have put some thought to it and it does seem to be in the relm of possibilties. To have some claim to your material that you created is better than none.



Respectfully,

what does it prove?

there is no substitute for actually registering a work. Before you register a work, it is still covered by copyright protection.

Maybe JK I did'nt fully read the starting thread but I did'nt know he was covered already by a copyright protection. I was just stating that in the conception of a person material he could maybe use this formal to have some claim on what he created.

I do not believe you could sue for copyright infringement.

They can argue it was a work for hire. You don't own the copyright. Unless you have a written contract that says differently.

They paid for the song, at least in part, so on that basis you have no claim for copyright infringement.

All you can do is attempt to legally exercise the original contract and collect the money that is apparently due you.

it does help to read the entire thread before commenting but I believe you still do not understand.

any work put into a tangible form (written, picture, recording, etc) has a copyright on it simply by creating that work in a tangible form. There are benefits of registering the copyrights such as: non-registered; owner must prove actual damages; owner is limited to actual damages

registered; there is a statutory amount the owner can sue for without having to actually prove damages; owner can seek legal fees

What if I registered now. I am assuming too late.

If you registered now:

You can't sue for any damages that happened before the filing of the copyright, but if the HS uses it again, then you have a right to damages.

I would still file, because chances are, that they might want to play again.

Brendan

Quote:

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Quoting jabezpryer

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In some situations:

A poor mans copy right can be drafted, put in a seal envolope and mailed back to yourself with a post mark date showing up on the package. If the package remains sealed it just might work.

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Here's a problem with that - I can mail myself an empty envelope and put whatever I want into it after-the-fact.

Your poor man's copyright, as Aaron said, it worthless. Totally and completely worthless.

You have not registered the copyright, even if you can argue that you own it and it is not a work for hire

Thus you are limited to actual damages, which you could never prove.

In any case, you obviously do not have the knowledge or skills to pursue this in United States District Court and you have no chance of hiring an attorney on contingency for a lame copyright case like this. I doubt you have the filing fee for US District Court much less anything else to pursue this.

I also would think if you went to court the media would roast you for suing a high school band, assuming you can sue the school at all. I am not going to waste my time explaining all that law.

Why is this thread still going? It is a waste of time. You can't do anything and you likely are in no position to do anything based on your postings here.

You want your ego stroked because you think you wrote the greatest band song ever. Get over yourself. There is nothing you can do. Waste of time all around.