Music copyright in the Philippines occupied lots of my working hours for nearly six years. I used to work in a licensing company that serves independent composers. It has been months since I left it, but the stigma of the things I saw and discovered lingered.
Music copyright is MONEY. It affects the things people have on their tables. Not only is it money, it is a virtual real estate, or something that earns money for the music composer not just once, but over and over again, for as long as his or her musical creations are being used.
Independent composers are the "small guys" in the music copyright terrain in the Philippines. Those who are not aware of music copyright rules fall victim to contracts that serve the interests of music publishers but sabotage the interests of music composers.
A popular singer-composer learned too late that he was no longer the owner of the song that earned millions here and abroad. Accordingly, he sold the song for a few thousands, based on the contract he signed. He lost his music copyright. He lost the millions.
Another popular singer-composer who wrote 4,000 songs died a poor man. Had he been in Japan, he would have died a very, very, very rich man. What happened to his music copyright? Where did his millions go?
A single song composed by a good music writer in the USA that goes to the charts will make that composer absolutely wealthy. That's because music copyright is well respected in that country.
Do we observe music copyright in the Philippines?
Our next recourse is education. When people know the music copyright rules, he or she will know when and when not to sign on top of the dotted line.
We pray that in due time, enough people will know the music copyright rules . . . and observe them.
i want to have a copyright for my songs poh,how?
ReplyDeleteHave a music sheet of your song ; the notation of it and chords(printed) 2 copies. Then print the copyright application form from the National Library website, fill up the form then have it notarized (notary public usually 100 pesos only) then proceed at the 4th floor, copyright division, National Library, kalaw, ermita. The director will check it and instruct you to pay 200 pesos at the cashier (1st floor) and buy STAMPS at the 2nd floor 30pesos only then back to the 4th floor. Submit the receipt and stamps, then the director will give you a claim stub and instruct you to come back after 30 days
Deletefor the certificate with the copyright number. Done
Yours truly Benjie Mendoza
May you pls give us a sample of a notation and chords of a song?
DeleteAwesome information, Benjie Mendoza. Thanks.
DeleteJaccel, I believe you can see samples in Google or Wikipedia. Here's one that may help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_notation
DeleteHave a music sheet of your song ; the notation of it and chords(printed) 2 copies. Then print the copyright application form from the National Library website, fill up the form then have it notarized (notary public usually 100 pesos only) then proceed at the 4th floor, copyright division, National Library, kalaw, ermita. The director will check it and instruct you to pay 200 pesos at the cashier (1st floor) and buy STAMPS at the 2nd floor 30pesos only then back to the 4th floor. Submit the receipt and stamps, then the director will give you a claim stub and instruct you to come back after 30 days
Deletefor the certificate with the copyright number. Done
Yours truly Benjie Mendoza
Good day po is this still the process of having copyright sa kanta? salamat po
Hi Kenneth! You already have copyright over your songs. All you need to do now is to protect that right by being very careful about the terms of the contracts you sign.
ReplyDeletei never signed any contracts pa poh, i recorded my orig songs but wala pang copyright
DeleteHi Kenneth, under the law, you have copyright over your material upon writing it :) So, you have copyright. The only remaining challenge is how to substantiate it more fully in case someone contests it. A friend has her compositions registered in the National Library. The date there is important. Another method is to send your own work back to yourself via registered mail, then never open it, unless you are compelled to use it as proof that you wrote the song. The date stamped on that mail, plus the fact that you never opened the mail upon receipt, would be sufficient proof in court.
DeleteHow much would it cost for a copyright at the National Library? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm pasting here the information given by Benjie Mendoza above:
DeleteHave a music sheet of your song ; the notation of it and chords(printed) 2 copies. Then print the copyright application form from the National Library website, fill up the form then have it notarized (notary public usually 100 pesos only) then proceed at the 4th floor, copyright division, National Library, kalaw, ermita. The director will check it and instruct you to pay 200 pesos at the cashier (1st floor) and buy STAMPS at the 2nd floor 30pesos only then back to the 4th floor. Submit the receipt and stamps, then the director will give you a claim stub and instruct you to come back after 30 days
for the certificate with the copyright number. Done
Yours truly Benjie Mendoza
it is posible to register online on copyright process? I agree Benjie Mendozas comments but i have no time to go in the national library coz im here in the visayas province
Deletepde pa po ba kong magpa copyright ng song kahit nagpeplay na sya on-air.? thanks.
ReplyDeleteIf it's your own song, yes na yes.
DeleteHi! Is it possible to submit a computer printed document with lyrics and chords in letters, like the one you on songhits, instead of musical sheets with the notes and tabs? Since I'm not expert on musical sheets.
ReplyDeletei have the same problem. I already have my recorded songs in digital/audio format only. Unfortunately, we wrote the song without ever writing it in sheets. Is there an alternative in the copyright requirements besides providing music sheets of the song i.e electronic copyright? thank you!
DeleteQuestion lang po.
ReplyDeleteNeed pa po bang may musical notation talaga? Paano po yung mga hindi marunong ng notes? Pwede po bang kahit chords lang?
Thank you po!
Yes. Dalawa actually ang kina-copyright sa song - music and lyrics. I'm not sure though if a recording would do. Pero safest ipa-nota mo.
DeleteSa mga kailangan ng notation, try nyo guitar pro software. Yun ginagamit ko.
ReplyDeleteAwesome :) Can you share the link to it John?
DeleteHere's the link: https://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php
DeleteYou can buy the software or if you need help just send me an email:
stephon-ray@hotmail.com
I wrote 17 original songs. Is it possible for us to notarized my song whereever we are?
ReplyDeleteMy current location is in camarines norte.
I suggest you take a copy of your song, put that in a sealed envelope, then mail that envelope to yourself through registered mail. Once it goes back to you *never* open it. That envelope will contain court-recognized time stamps. Should it be necessary for you to defend your copyright in court, that's your prima facie evidence.
DeleteThen, once you have time to visit Manila, take some time to visit the National Library and see how you can have your song registered there.
Hi, Im a marketing director and I need to obtain rights to FRANCIS M'S SONG "MGA KABABAYAN KO" for a commercial for the masses... how do i do that? and who do i speak to?? thanks... would appreciate some guidance...
ReplyDeleteHI Michaella, search for the publisher of the song. It should be available in Google or in the CD cover. If still the info isn't there, try getting in touch with FILSCAP http://www.filscap.com.ph/
DeleteHi, public school teacher po ako at nagsulat po ako ng play na gamit sana ang mga kanta ng rivermaya. For educational purposes naman po siya at 20 pesos lang naman kami maningil ng ticket pag may play, nagmessage po ako sa account ng rivermaya at rico blanco per di po sila sumasagot. Kanino po ako pwedeng magpaalam? natatakot po kasi ako na baka idemanda ako kung ipapalabas namin yng play sa school...salamat po.
ReplyDeleteAng pagkakaa-alam ko po, merong exemption ang schools for educational purposes under certain conditions. Please refer to RA 8293 Chapter VIII - Limitations on Copyright, Sec 184.1(f) - http://www.chanrobles.com/legal7copyright.htm#.V3MtbZN97F3
DeleteIf your school has a lawyer, he may want to look into this.
Good day! I just would like to ask if you happen to know anyone who takes the job of notating a song. Thank you.
DeleteHi Anonymous. I do song notation. Email me at sofijohann@yahoo.com or sms me at 09331271357. If you want to quickly contact me, sms me on my phone as I seldom go online. -- JRB
DeleteQuestion po, if I need to have 12 songs copyrighted, do I need to pay 200 pesos for each of them or can I have them copyrighted as one aggregate? Thanks po!
ReplyDeleteSorry for late reply. I believe copyright is on a per song basis. But check it out with the National Library.
DeleteDo I really have to use the post office for the court-recognized time stamps? I trust LBC more. Can't I use LBC instead to send my songs to myself?
ReplyDeleteA registered mail has time stamps on it that's readily recognized by law. Just make sure you don't open the mail once you received it. It should remain closed until you need to open.
Deletepano po pag di ako marunong mag notation sir?
ReplyDeletepede po ba lyrics with chords lang po ang ipasa?
if mag papa copyright sa ermita
May mga marunong mag-notation. Pinaka-safe naka-notation.
Deletesaan po ba pwede mag pa notate ng songs? 12 songs kasi lahat since isang album ang papa copyright namin. Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteMaraming mga marunong mag-notation dyan. I'm sure meron kang kakilala. If none, approach any of the popular bands you know. If none still, approach a music teacher.
DeleteTry nyo po yung guitar pro software Maam.
ReplyDeleteAno po ba genre ng songs nyo?
I haven't tried but that's an interesting technology. Use it.
DeleteHindi ba po pwede yung recorded lang? gaya ng electronic music?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHow about publishing it at YouTube indicating your claim that it's your original song? YouTube indicates the publishing time and date for each video. Will that be enough to back you up in case someone makes a claim on a latter time?
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of such a case before; but I think that's something you can do. The downside of that is, it's public.
DeleteYou can copyright a song with lyrics and chords, then submit a cd that has the recorded song. That will prove its music and so not necessarily a notation is required nowadats.
ReplyDeleteTo add:
ReplyDeleteMusical compositions with or without Two (2) original copies of
lyrics the music sheet or an
electronic copy submitted
online or in a storage
medium
Source: National Library - Rules on Copyright
Possible po kaya na magpacopy right ng isang buong music album o each songs po talaga
ReplyDeletePossible po kaya na magpacopy right ng isang buong music album o each songs po talaga?
ReplyDeletepwd po pa mag pa copyright ng hindi mo composed song/music pero ginawan mo ng ibang areglo?
ReplyDeleteHi..Ask ko lang po sana paano po ang division of rights or credits ng isang song if yung isang tao ang gumawa ng lyrics and melody then iba yung nglapat ng chords? thank you po for your response.. :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for the information presented in this page. It's very helpful for us starters.
ReplyDeleteRelated to music copyright: What if I want to sell my songs (which doesn't have yet any copyright) to a band, so they get full authorship and ownership? Is there any precaution I should take? I'm concerned that while copyrighting my songs legally puts me as "author", the band buying my songs will have issues in terms of ownership.
Your usual helpful response will be much appreciated.
Good day po. I have more than 130 songs. At least 36 of those have been already in different parts of the Philippines. Should I decide to have a copyright of all those 130 songs, bawat isa po ba ay tig 200? Secondly, possible po ba kahit lyrics and chords lang po? Salamat po in advance. :)
ReplyDeleteGood day! pano kung ginawa ko lang sa Fruity Loops yung beats ko, need po pa din ng notation/chords?
ReplyDeletezero knowledge po ako sa ganito.
Hi guys, gumagawa ako ng notation. Please let me know if interested. Send me an email: mystogano1983@outlook.com
ReplyDeletehttp://web.nlp.gov.ph/nlp/?q=node/646
ReplyDeletepaano po ba ipa-copy right ung kanta.kylangan pa po ba ng demo ng audio or khit lyrics lang po?and how much ang babayaran.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteUnknownFebruary 10, 2022 at 1:44 AM
paano po ba ipa-copy right ung kanta.kylangan pa po ba ng demo ng audio or khit