JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum Copyright Issue

If I re-write several lines in one of my previously copyrighted works, does this require me to apply for a new copyright on the modified piece or some other legal amendment?

If it is released on a major artist. That is when you worry about copyrights.

MAB

I appreciate the advice.

Thanks,
Larry

Go to www.copyright.gov and see what you can find out. There should be stuff there to download.

If all else fails you can email the copyright office and ask.

I think if you're pitching it you may be able to wait until you've got a 'hold' or definite 'cut' contract before you re-register it, unless the parts you've rewritten are pretty special improvements to the work.

I highly suggest you go to the copyright Web Site and order the PA form with instructions. After reading the instructions you can decide if you need to do an additional registration. If the melody is much the same and the song message is much the same I would probaly not worry about any further registration. Songs are modified all the time to fit an artist. A Publishing Contract will contain a clause allowing the song to be edited if needed to fit an artist.

I think that the issue of copywrite may be different than the issue of licensing rights with regard to such a modified song. Remember, that there is no obligation to register a song for it to have copywrite protection. The registration is primarily to serve as evidence of the copywrite.

Tom