Basically, I plan on releasing a three-track EP on the 4th of May and I wish to know how to copyright the album artwork, which was self-created along with every other aspect of the album. Should I simply put the three audio files and the front/ back EP cover images on a blank DVD, mail it to myself (using special delivery) and ensure that the envelope’s exterior clearly states its contents? I know it’s only “poor man’s copyright” but I’m not particularly bothered about using the system.
Cheers in advance guys and girls,
Matthew Clark [Ardeer]
@00.1 - I have to admit, that is some damn fine an extensive research I’ll look through what I can of it when I have the time but it’s rather daunting a hungover afternoon! Thanks for the awesome finds anyway dude!
@IT-Alien - I’m amazed that I’ve never found this site. Sorry to sound like a total novice (I’m entirely new to the idea of releasing via other means that "poor man’s copyright) but is this genuinely a service which allows you, for free, to copyright various types of material without having to send a copy home to yourself at all? I’m guessing it’s pretty obvious; I just find it astounding considering the extortionate rates of some of the companies offering copyright protection.
@robotrobot - I’ve done that many a time in the past when releasing chiptunes online and, as much as I love the system, pretty much all of the samples in my release have been self-recorded and I’d quite like some copyright control over this one.
Ardeer: one thing is claiming copyright of a work, one other is defending your claim in a court. SafeCreative is a free service which allows you to “timestamp” a work, but this will not be enough to win every legal controvery you may encounter. Sure it is a point, and it is better than self-sending mails to yourself, but I can’t ensure you it would be enough in every circumstance.
reading their FAQ’s should answer any question, though, in which there is indeed a paragraph about their legal service; in a nutshell: signing your works with SafeCreative is an evidence, but you will still need legal help in order to win controversies