Re: collage (was:FNV-RIAA IS CRACKING DOWN)

["Dennis W. Leas" <dennis@mdbs.com>]

Crossedout@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 8/28/98 3:41:32 AM Central Daylight Time, 
>hovard@online.no
> writes:
> 
> << But couldn`t Van Halen deny them the right to cover his song? >>
> 
> I'm not sure, but I think if you pay the royalty assigned to cover 
>versions,
> you can record and release whatever you want.

As I recall:
1) When you create a work, you own the copyright to the work.  The 
copyright is yours since 
you are the creator.  No paperwork is necessary.

2) You register your copyright with the US government.  Do not confuse 
your creation of the 
work (which means you own the copyright) with your registration of the 
copyright (which 
means you sent in paperwork, etc.).  You may chose to register your 
copyright to increase 
your legal evidence should your copyright ownership be distputed.  The 
government does not 
grant you a copyright, that is your right as the creator.  The government 
functions as a 
service to register copyright claims.

3) As the copyright owner, you have the right to first publication of the 
work.  You can 
refuse anybody the right to publish (i.e., to record and distribute) until 
you have done 
so.

4) Once you have published, you cannot refuse the right for someone else 
to publish; 
however, they must pay you a royalty.

- Dennis Leas