How can i ensure my guitarist won't steal my original song we're working on in his recording studio?

Question

i sang it for him acappella yesterday, he has the notes, but not the lyrics yet. i record it wednesday after he sets the timing. i paid $35 for him to do the beats i will sing to and on wednesday i will pay another $35 to record it. i told him i still ned to copyright it. he is a 15-year music veteran who has worked with numerous indie acts. should i copyright it after i get the cd or before i record it, acappella? the music man said he doesn't sign documents stating that my work is original. i wantd him to write that he wouldn't steal it but he refused. can i trust him?

Answer 1

You should have copyrighted your music WAY BEFORE you even did anything else to protect your music. If he doesnt want to work with you...go find someone else who will. There are millions of other Musicians, Songwriters & Producers in the world to work with. The Botton line is....

If "your gut" is telling to walk away from this....then listen to your gut feeling and simply just go copyright your songs immediately to protect your music & lyrics.  Since he refuses to sign a piece of paper stating that he wouldnt steal your music. I would have walked away from him right there.

When you don't copyright your music & lyrics....

You are basically setting yourself up for disaster...

Go copyright BOTH your music & lyrics immediately to protect yourself & prevent any further more dangerous situations like this to you in the future. While your at the Post Office. Also get  "a CONFIRMATION note" & also KEEP your Post Office RECIEPT too for your Copyright Records as proof that you did indeed send your music to the Library of Congress.  

The way it works is....from the moment you create a songs....it is yours "technically"...however...you will need the actual "Certificate of authenticity" from the Library of Congress to legally proove & prevent anyone else from CLAIMING your songs, music or lyrics. The actual "The certificate"  will hold up in any Court of Law legally and will proove that you are indeed the owner of those songs. That paper gives you complete ownership of your music & lyrics.

www.copyright.gov

& pay your $45 fee

since you wrote the music & the lyrics...

you will need the SR (Sound Recordings)  form to download.

also go to

www.tunecore.com

to sell your music and still keep your rights too.

Answer 2

The best thing is to mail yourself a copy and that is just as good as a copyright.

Just write a note and explain that you are the compose of the enclosed music and wish to protect it from being taken.

With the date stamp on the envelope, that is good enough proof because i gather that you will be practicing still by the time you receive your letter.

it is accepted in the court of law so don't worry.

Answer 3

You shouldn't be worried about whether someone is going to steal your song. You should be worried about writing another 50.

If this guy has been working in the industry for 15 years, he would have probably built a reputation as a rip-off artist. If you haven't heard about it by now, you either did zero research, or he doesn't rip people off.

Answer 4

threaten him with a .44 magnum