Beats are the heart and soul of any music as it is what makes the audience tap their toes. If you can create such beats that can give music life, you might want to consider copyrighting it. Why?
Well, it is the best way of protecting your work as it makes you its legal owner and prevents anyone from stealing, copying, or plagiarising it. However, copyrighting beats and music can become exhausting since it involves going through official channels. To help you clear all of your doubts, here is a detailed guide on music copyrighting:
Should you copyright the music or beats?
The answer to whether you should copyright your music or beat is yes. You should get it copyrighted. Why? Well, copyrighting is a way of safeguarding your interests legally.
In case someone uses your beat or music as their own, and you don’t have a copyright, suing would still be possible but extremely difficult. This is because it would involve a lot of litigation fees, paperwork, and rounds around public offices. In contrast, if you have a copyright on your beats or music, suing for copyright infringement would become fairly simple as you would have the law by your side!
How to copyright beats with examples?
A beat is an underlying part of music, and to copyright it, you would have to apply for it through the Government of India’s official copyrighting website. However, it is recommended that before you start the process, you consult with a lawyer. This is because copyrighting a beat involves a lot of intricacies, which a layman musician or composer doesn’t know anything about.
For example, copyrighting a beat that has samples in it might become difficult to copyright as it involves another person’s work. So, in short, to copyright a beat, you would have to first consult a lawyer, apply at the official copyright’s website, fill out the required forms, and pay the necessary fees.
How to copyright music?
Copyrighting music in India generally consists of 5 steps. They are:
- Filing of application
The first step is to apply virtually through a copyright attorney. Within the application, information regarding the aspects of the copyright would be filed. Alongside the form, you would pay a certain amount of fees to the government. Once all of these formalities are cleared, a diary number will get allotted to you.
- Formality examination
In this step, a formality check will be performed. It is carried out to ensure that every prerequisite has been met, such as submission of 2 copies of work and Form XIV.
- Waiting period
A waiting period of 30 days will be adhered to after the application passes through the second step. Within this waiting period, the application would be open to receiving any kind of objection from a third party who claims to have an interest in the subject matter of the copyright. In case of an objection, the application would move to the next step.
- Hearing
This step is only relevant for those applications that have received an objection from a third party. In this step, both the parties would be issued a letter, a hearing would be scheduled at the registrar, and both of them would get an equal chance to present their case. If the application passes, it will go to the next step.
- Registration granted
In the final step, the application would be reviewed by the registrar. If he/she is not convinced, the application will be rejected, and a notice will be sent to the applicant. In case he/she is satisfied, the application will be approved, and the extracts will be sent to the applicant.
FAQs
Q1. Can I use copyright music for my Instagram page?
Ans: No, using copyright music on your Instagram page can invite a lot of legal troubles. However, you can always use copyright-free music for Instagram from Beatoven music!
Q2. How long will my copyright last?
Ans: The general rule says that copyright can last for up to 60 years. In the case of authentic music or artistic work, the 60-year period is counted from the year following the death of the copyright owner.
Q3. How can I use my copyright?
Ans: You can use your copyright by suing someone for copyright infringement, in case they have used your copyrighted work without your prior permission.
Q4. Can I use copyright music for my YouTube videos?
Ans: No, you cannot use copyright music for your YouTube videos. However, you can always use copyright-free music for YouTube from Beatoven music that is completely free to download.
How can Beatoven music help musicians who are just starting out?
Entering the music industry is scary as there always remains the risk of copyright infringement from big labels. To encourage young musicians such as yourself, Beatoven music offers a large copyright-free music library. It boasts a wide range of copyright-free music that belong to different genres. So, whether you are a content creator, a musician, or an artist, Beatoven music is the one-stop solution for all of your royalty-free music needs. Plus, Beatoven music also allows you to create your own tunes, thanks to its cutting-edge AI!
