What protection exists for artists releasing their own music that don't have access to a lawyer?
Lesson time: (1min 3sec)
Judge Jules explains how to protect your music without a lawyer - why the UK has no copyright registry like the US, and how to prove you wrote a track.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Legals & Deals: The Basics of The Music Industry
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Understanding Copyright Registration in the UK vs. the United States
Unlike the United States, where there exists a system of registration for copyright through a central copyright office, the situation in the UK and many other parts of Europe is quite different.
Copyright Registration in the United States:
- Central Copyright Office: Allows creators to register their works.
- Types of Works: This includes music, designs, and any content with copyright.
- Process: You send your work to the office for official registration.
Copyright in the UK and Europe:
- No Formal Registration System: There is no central office to register copyrights.
- Proving Authorship: The focus is on attempting to demonstrate that you were the original creator.
Traditional Methods of Proving Copyright:
Traditionally, creators would try to prove authorship with the following method:
- Burn a CD: Create a copy of your music.
- Mail it to Yourself: Send it in a sealed envelope, ideally with proof of postage.
- Keep it Sealed: Preserve it until needed as proof of the original creation.
Modern Alternatives:
In today's digital age, there are more effective ways to demonstrate originality:
- SoundCloud Page: Uploading your work to platforms like SoundCloud provides a date stamp that can serve as proof of when you published the work.
Key Takeaway:
The essence of copyright in this context is proving you were there first. If someone infringes on your copyright, you want to ensure that they cannot claim prior ownership. Therefore, maintain records that establish your original work.
About the instructor
Jules O'Riordan has over 30 years of experience across the entire spectrum of the music industry. This includes nearly a decade as an A&R for the Universal umbrella of labels, 15 years as a presenter on BBC Radio 1, over 150 record releases and remixes in his own capacity as a recording artist, plus a 30-year career as one of Britain's best-known, globally-travelled DJs (Judge Jules), with over 5000 gigs under his belt, plus extensive experience as an event promoter and artist manager at the highest level. Suffice to say, Jules knows the music industry inside-out, and his clients regard him as a trusted advisor for whom no legal or business affairs challenge or problem is too large or small. Jules has been a lawyer for 10 years. His practice takes in the entire breadth of the music-focused entertainment industry. His legal and deal expertise includes management, recording, publishing, distribution and label services, music-based apps, games and tech projects, production deals, producers, featured artists, endorsements, merchandising, neighbouring rights, TV/film scores, live performance, events and venue agreements, plus copyright and rights infringement and many other disputes. Jules's clients include artists, management companies, record labels, songwriters, event promoters, producers, music tech businesses, production companies, live agents, music publishers and DJs. He has spoken on many panels and seminars including ADE, Brighton Music Conference and AIM events, and has been a guest speaker on legal issues across a number of on and off-line media outlets, including BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Introducing, Financial Times, The Sun, The Times and Mixmag. Jules speaks fluent Spanish. Who better to demystify the contracts and deals every musician eventually faces? In his course, Jules turns three decades of hard-won industry knowledge into plain-English guidance, so you can understand the business side of music and protect your work long before you sign on the dotted line. read more