Can someone steal your music from Myspace?

[audiocurry]

Hi! I guess the topic is self-explanatory. I was wondering: if I post a song on Myspace, can someone steal the song, and is there something I can do about that as far as copyrights go? I realise if they post the song on Myspace, then Myspace can do something if it gets reported. But here I am asking about somewhere else, or let's say, someone cuts a single of the same song, and takes the credit for it. What do you say? Thanks!

[Cailyn]

Can they? Yes. Will they? Not that likely really. Of course if you have something that is really brilliant, you would be wise to copyright it through the US Copyright Office at:

U.S. Copyright Office

Then you will have some recourse if your work is stolen.

[richiebee]

How ever you distribute your music, people can steal it. If you want to totally safeguard yourself, don't let anyone hear your music. Not even you.

[audiocurry]

Thanks! You're right, and I realise that already. No, I'm talking more about a scenario where say, someone likes your song a whole lot, and sees some commercial potential in it, and goes ahead and cuts a single of it, and then since you didn't register your copyright, you get no credit. Sounds like a bleak scenario, but it happens. On the other hand, it's not something that deters me from giving my music to others. It's just something I've been wondering about. Thanks again!

[Louigi Verona]

Don't be afraid of that.
1. It is unlikely since creative people like to make things themselves and not steal.
2. Those ppl that are just attention seekers never get any publicity anyway until someone finds out they've stolen songs.
3. Commercial artists who care only for money might do this, but it will not be that obvious.
4. In many cases it would be more profitable for them to get a contract with you anyway, if they like what you do.

All in all, be independent. Don't hold on to your music like that, just let it out. If someone steals it - why should you, a composer, care? In order to get more songs they have to steal again and all you have to do is write. If your music is stolen, you can write more. Try releasing your music under Creative Commons. It will let people sample your music but they will have to credit you.

[audiocurry]

Thanks! All in all, it confirms what I've been thinking, but it's good to have other opinions as well. Okay, so will do. Appreciate all of your help!

[Vulconizer]

From what I understand, as soon as your song is put to any type of media, tape, hard drive, paper, ect., it is yours. It is copy written and is afforded protection.

It is easier to take a case to court to defend against the theft of your music if it has been formally registered I believe, but even without being so, it can still be defended from what I understand. Usually, it's going to cost you more to defend it than you would lose to the theft, by the way. Unless someone takes your song and makes a huge hit out of it, it may not be worth the hassle.

Please don't take what I say as the end-all/be-all in regards to this. It is just what I have come to understand from my readings in regards to this issue. I was worried about it myself and then realized we have rights as soon as it is committed to any form of media in just about any fashion.

The thing I got out of it all is that unless you are going to be signing a contract with some entity in regards to the use of your songs, it is not an issue to be very worried about, *in most cases*.

My view on it is like this: Theft of that sort makes me extremely mad ( thieves suck big green donkey dicks, by the way ) on the one hand, but also comes across as a form of flattery, so you kind of want to be happy if someone were to go to the trouble to hijack your stuffs.

[Renegade Studios]

Yeah Vulconizer is right once its fix to a tangable media its automatically granted a copyright.. but to bring a claim of copyright infringement the song track or lyrics will have to be copyrighted... You should get this book... its called the The Business of Music... its in its 10th edition and Im still not done reading it but it has given me incredible insight. It would be a great help in this situation.

And it also explains every single (and I mean every single) aspect of the music business. Like union contracts, performance right agencies, royalties... distribution publishing... everything indepthly. Its a boring read... but the information is invaluable.

[audiocurry]

Thank you everyone for your invaluable support and advice. I appreciate your taking the time to respond.

[fortyseven]

Originally Posted by Renegade Studios

Yeah Vulconizer is right

He normally is!