Guide · The business of songwriting
How to copyright a song
In the US a song is protected by copyright automatically once you have written it down or recorded it, and in the UK protection is automatic too. You do not have to register. In the US you must register before you can sue for infringement, and registering early can make extra remedies available. This is general information, not legal advice.
Updated 20 Oct 2026
Is a song copyrighted automatically?
The US Copyright Office says copyright is secured the moment a work is created and fixed in a tangible form, such as a recording or a written lyric sheet. It says registration is generally voluntary. (Source: copyright.gov, general FAQ, checked 20 Oct 2026.) In the UK the government says you get copyright protection automatically, and there is no register of copyright works. (Source: gov.uk/copyright, checked 20 Oct 2026.)
So why register in the US?
- To sue. The Copyright Office says you must register before you can bring a lawsuit for infringement of a US work. (copyright.gov, general FAQ, checked 20 Oct 2026.)
- For extra remedies. The Copyright Office says registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in successful litigation. Section 412 of the law generally bars statutory damages and attorney's fees for infringement that began before registration. If the work was published, there is an exception when you register within three months of first publication. (copyright.gov general FAQ, and 17 U.S.C. section 412 at copyright.gov/title17/92chap4.html, checked 20 Oct 2026.)
- As evidence. A registration made within five years of publication is prima facie evidence in court, and it puts your claim on the public record, with a certificate. (copyright.gov, general FAQ, checked 20 Oct 2026.)
The "poor man's copyright" does not work
Mailing yourself a copy of a song is sometimes suggested. The Copyright Office says copyright law has no provision for it and it is not a substitute for registration. (copyright.gov, general FAQ, checked 20 Oct 2026.) Keeping dated copies of your demos and lyrics can still be useful as evidence of when you wrote them.
How much does it cost to register a song in the US?
The Copyright Office fee page lists, for electronic filing, $45 for a Single Application (single author, same claimant, one work, not for hire) and $65 for a Standard Application. It also lists $85 for a group of unpublished works. (copyright.gov/about/fees.html, checked 20 Oct 2026. The page shows no effective date, so check it before you file.) For which application fits a song, and whether to register the music and lyrics, a recording, or both, use the Copyright Office's music pages or ask a music lawyer.
How do I register a song with the US Copyright Office?
You file online through the Copyright Office's electronic registration system (eCO). See the Office's registration page for the fee and the file types it accepts, and its processing times page for how long it takes. (copyright.gov/registration, checked 20 Oct 2026.)
What cannot be copyrighted in a song?
The Copyright Office says copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans or short phrases, nor ideas, concepts, systems or methods, only the expression of them. (copyright.gov, copyright basics FAQ, checked 20 Oct 2026.) So a song title cannot be copyrighted, though a name can sometimes be a trademark.
How does song copyright work in the UK?
There is no registration in the UK. One practical option is to keep dated records of your work. You can add the copyright symbol, your name and the year; the UK government says marking a work does not change the level of protection. (gov.uk/copyright, checked 20 Oct 2026.) Rules differ by country.
Keep dated records of every version
In songdrafts every take of a song stacks on one card in the order you add them, with the lyrics on the same song, which is a handy record of how the song grew. It is not a legal registration.
Common questions
Do I have to register a song to own the copyright?
No. In the US copyright exists automatically once the song is fixed in a recording or written down, and in the UK you get protection automatically too. Registration is voluntary in the US, though required before you can sue for infringement of a US work.
How much does it cost to register a song in the US?
The Copyright Office fee page lists $45 for a Single Application and $65 for a Standard Application for electronic filing, and $85 for a group of unpublished works, as checked on 20 Oct 2026. Check the page before you file.
Does mailing myself the song protect it?
No. The Copyright Office says there is no provision in the law for this and it is not a substitute for registration.
Can I copyright a song title?
No. The Copyright Office says copyright does not protect titles, though a name can sometimes be a trademark.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is general information from official sources. For anything important, ask a music lawyer.
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