Rights to songs and other info

[amopae]

Well, I never understood how was all the registration process to get the rights to my bands songs. Here in Venezuela there's kind of a big process to go by, but I don't know if, by doing the registration of the songs gets the thing done internationally.
And also, could someone explain to me how I should go about the publication part? Should we set up a company or what?

I really need all the help I can get on this topic and since I did a quick search and found nothing, that's why I'm starting the thread. :D

[dandeurloo]

Are you registering with ASCAP or SESAC or BMI? If so you will be covered.

[amopae]

Are you registering with ASCAP or SESAC or BMI? If so you will be covered.

Aren't ASCAP, SESAC and BMI only the guys that do the "managing" of the rights?? I thought that you registered your songs with them so they could watch for your royalties

[Bob Olhsson]

This is one for Deborah but my understanding is that copyrights are respected in any country that has signed the appropriate treaty.

It appears that as of 1994, Venezuela is a member of the World Industrial Property Organization (WIPO) and is a signatory to the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Geneva Phonograms Convention, and the Universal Copyright Convention.

Here in the US, music performance royalties are paid separately by performing rights organizations to artists, recording copyright owners, composers and publishers so you need to set up your own publishing company and record label identities in order to collect the money. No business license is required here because of the freedom of the press provisions in our country's constitution. I have no idea what is required by the P.R.O.s or governments elsewhere.

[Deborah Neville]

copyrights are respected in any country that has signed the appropriate treaty.

It appears that as of 1994, Venezuela is a member of the World Industrial Property Organization (WIPO) and is a signatory to the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Geneva Phonograms Convention, and the Universal Copyright Convention.

Here in the US, music performance royalties are paid separately by performing rights organizations to artists, recording copyright owners, composers and publishers so you need to set up your own publishing company and record label identities in order to collect the money. .

Copyright: a creature of each country ("national rights" in the US, the Constitution provides for "authors rights", and under treaty rights are given full faith and credit between and among member countries. See www.wipo.int/treaties and check out Venezuela. The Berne Convention significantly influenced US copyright law. More on that later, but if you're curious see www.copyright.gov. Click on the nifty section "Taking the mystery out of copyright" (for students and teachers).
In the US, registering "enhances" the copyright is quick and inexpensive,, and is a requirement prior to enforcement (court action). I am not sure what you mean when you say Venezuela is complicated, as I cannot find any source material on the process..can you provide a link perhaps to the relevant Venezuelan government site?
AS FOR Publication- not sure what the question is. "Publication" has a meaning under copyright law, but I sense the question is aimed at what Bob alludes to : music publishing.
best,
dn
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle" [Philo of Alexandria]

[amopae]

In the US, registering "enhances" the copyright is quick and inexpensive,, and is a requirement prior to enforcement (court action). I am not sure what you mean when you say Venezuela is complicated, as I cannot find any source material on the process..can you provide a link perhaps to the relevant Venezuelan government site?


Thank you very much, there's some interesting reading to be done over at those sites you pointed me to.
I said Venezuela is a bit complicated, because there aren't a lot of lawyers that handle that area, over here most lawyers handle a everything but owner's rights law and if there are some, I have not had the chance to meet one.
Again, those pointers you gave me are VERY helpful, thank you very much for the help

[Mixerman]

Thank you very much, there's some interesting reading to be done over at those sites you pointed me to.
I said Venezuela is a bit complicated, because there aren't a lot of lawyers that handle that area, over here most lawyers handle a everything but owner's rights law and if there are some, I have not had the chance to meet one.
Again, those pointers you gave me are VERY helpful, thank you very much for the help

70% of the WORLD'S attorney's are in California.

Sorry, Deborah! (And you just got here too.)

Enjoy,

Mixerman