Everett,

You are wrong. At least according to statutory law and common law in the US. Please research this on your own. I know, as Passman said, it's intuitive that you may feel you can just take your lyrics and leave, but it's not that simple, depending on a lot of factors. And while the courts can be all over the place on this subject (and of course if there are questions about a specific instance, you should get legal advice), there is case law out there that I've read that says that even if you created the lyrics in a different time and place than when they were merged with a melody, if the lyrics were created with the goal in mind to someday add a melody, then those lyrics can become a joint work if added to a melody.

People do not have to sit down together in order to create a joint work. The seperate contributions can be created anyplace and anytime, independent of one another. When they are merged, they can still be considered a joint work if all the qualifying factors are there.

If you don't have any prior agreements (such as a songwriter's agreement as Truman suggested), preferably in writing, then when you ask someone to put a melody to your lyrics, you are creating a situation (in the US anyway) where you may no longer solely own your lyrics. And it doesn't matter whether you like the melody or not.



[This message has been edited by Liszt Laughing (edited 12-17-2005).]

Boo...my name is Doug