When is a song copyrighted?

A song is copyrighted as soon as your “work” is created. Many people have a misunderstanding of when the work is created. You may have been told that your song (or book, or movie) is effective when you “think” of it.

This is not true, and your song needs to be put in a “fixed” form. This could be a recording of the songs melody or a written “lead sheet”, or a full blown score. The point being that the lyrics and melody are in a permanent form.

Only after the song is fixed will you have full protection under the copyright laws of your country.