How to Copyright My Band's Name & the Songs I Write

A copyright is a set of rights granted to the creator of an original piece of work. If you have written a song and want to copyright it, you need to submit an online copyright form with the government. Unfortunately, the same cannot be done for a band name, because names are not protected by copyright law. But filling out the eCO, or electronic copyright, for a song is an easy and simple way to secure the rights to your original work. Simply fill out the form and send $35 with your submission. The processing time may take up to nine months, but it is worth it to secure and maintain your rights for the song.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Visit the federal government's copyright website at copyright.gov/forms/ and click "log in to eCO: Electronic Copyright Office."

   • 2

     Select the "Continue to eCO" button on the bottom of the page.

   • 3

     To create an account, select the "If you are a new user, click here to register" option under the log-in menu on the left side. When your account registration is complete, log in to the website.

   • 4

     Fill out all of the required fields of the copyright form and submit the form. With your user name and password, you can check the status of your claim.