Copyright Protection Guide for Songwriters

BuyDemoTracks
Last Updated: February 14, 2026

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal questions, consult a qualified entertainment attorney.

Your Songs Are Already Protected (Here’s What That Means)

Good news: copyright protection is automatic. The moment you write a song and record it — even a voice memo on your phone — you own the copyright. You don’t need to file paperwork, mail yourself a CD, or pay anyone for protection to exist.

But “existing” and “being enforceable” are two different things. This guide explains the difference and what you can do to protect your songs before, during, and after using BuyDemoTracks.

How Copyright Works

What’s Protected

When you write a song, copyright protects:

The melody — the tune, the notes, the musical composition
The lyrics — the words you wrote
The arrangement — how you structured the song (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.)
The recording — the specific sound recording you made (your voice memo, your guitar demo, etc.)

What’s NOT Protected

Song titles (you can’t copyright “Love Song”)
Chord progressions (I-IV-V-I belongs to everyone)
General ideas or themes (“a song about heartbreak”)
Short phrases or common musical motifs
Facts or information

When Protection Begins

Voice memo on your phone ✅
Written down on paper (lyrics + melody notation) ✅
Recorded in a studio ✅
Typed in a document with lyrics ✅ (but only protects the lyrics without a recording of the melody)

You do NOT need to:

Register with the Copyright Office (though you should — see below)
Put a © symbol on it (though it doesn’t hurt)
“Mail it to yourself” (this is a myth and has no legal value)
Publish it or share it with anyone

Why Registration Matters

Your copyright exists automatically, but registering it with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you superpowers in court:

Without Registration

You own the copyright ✅
You can ask someone to stop using your song ✅
You can file a lawsuit… but only AFTER you register (which takes months) ❌
You can recover only “actual damages” (what you can prove you lost) — often very little ❌

With Registration (Before Infringement or Within 3 Months of Publication)

Everything above, PLUS:
You can file a lawsuit immediately ✅
You can recover statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringement (no need to prove what you lost) ✅
The court can order the infringer to pay your attorney’s fees ✅
Your registration is prima facie evidence that you own the copyright (the burden of proof shifts to the infringer) ✅

The Bottom Line

Registration is the difference between “please stop” and “pay me $150,000 and my lawyer’s fees.” For $65, it’s the best insurance policy a songwriter can buy.

How to Register Your Copyright

Option 1: Through BuyDemoTracks ($65)

We offer copyright registration as an add-on service:

We prepare and file the application on your behalf
You provide the song file and songwriter information
We handle the paperwork with the U.S. Copyright Office
You receive the registration certificate
Price: $65 per song (this is the Copyright Office filing fee — we don’t add a markup)
Timeline: The Copyright Office currently takes 2-8 months to process, but your effective registration date is the date we file

Option 2: DIY at Copyright.gov ($65)

You can file directly:
1. Go to [copyright.gov/registration](https://www.copyright.gov/registration)
2. Create an account on the Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) system
3. Select “Register a Work” → “Work of the Performing Arts” (Form PA)
4. Fill in the application:
– Title: Your song title
– Author: Your name (and co-writers if any)
– Year of creation: When you wrote it
– Claimant: You (the copyright owner)
5. Upload your song file (MP3 or WAV recommended)
6. Pay the $65 filing fee
7. Submit and save your confirmation

Pro tip: If you have multiple songs, you can register them as a “collection” for a single $65 fee — but only if they’re all by the same author(s) and unpublished.

What BuyDemoTracks Does and Doesn’t Protect

What We DO

Licensing structure: Our Songwriter License Agreement ensures Artists receive only a limited, non-exclusive license. You keep 100% ownership.
Credit requirements: Artists must credit you on every post.
Commercial use protection: No Artist can release your song commercially without a separate agreement that YOU approve.
Dispute resolution: If there’s an ownership dispute, we have a process to investigate and resolve it.
Content ID coordination: We help manage Content ID claims so your songs aren’t wrongly blocked or monetized by others.

What We DON’T

We are not a copyright office. We don’t register copyrights (unless you purchase our add-on service).
We are not a law firm. We can’t give legal advice or represent you in court.
We can’t prevent all infringement. Once content is on the internet, it can be copied. We take measures to protect you, but no platform can guarantee zero infringement.
We can’t control third-party platforms. If someone rips your song from TikTok and uploads it elsewhere, that’s between you and that platform (though we’ll help you understand your options).

PRO Registration (ASCAP / BMI / SESAC)

What Are PROs?

Performing Rights Organizations collect royalties when your songs are publicly performed — on radio, in restaurants, at concerts, in streaming, and (importantly) on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

The Big Three

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) — ascap.com
BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) — bmi.com
SESAC — sesac.com (invitation-only, but accepting applications)

Should You Join?

Yes, if:

Your songs are being performed publicly (including on Social Platforms)
You want to collect performance royalties
You’re serious about songwriting as a career or income source

How to join:

ASCAP: Free to join as a writer, $50 one-time fee as a publisher
BMI: Free for writers, $150 one-time for publishers (individual) / $250 (company)
SESAC: Apply online, acceptance is selective

Important for BuyDemoTracks Users

Register your songs with your PRO after you write them
When an Artist performs your Hook on TikTok and it gets views, your PRO should collect performance royalties on your behalf
Do NOT let an Artist register your song with their PRO. Our Artist Performance Agreement prohibits this, but check your PRO registrations periodically
If you’re unsure about PRO registration, ASCAP and BMI both have excellent online resources and support

What to Do If Someone Steals Your Song

Step 1: Don’t Panic — Document Everything

Screenshot the infringing content (URL, post, video)
Note the date you first saw it
Save evidence of your original creation (voice memos, dated files, registration certificate)

Step 2: Determine the Type of Infringement

On BuyDemoTracks: An Artist using your Hook outside the scope of their license → Contact us at support@buydemotracks.com. We’ll handle it through our dispute resolution process.
On Social Platforms (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram): Someone using your song without permission → File a copyright report directly with the platform (see Step 3).
Commercial release without permission: Someone released your song on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. → This is serious. Contact the platform AND consider consulting an attorney.

Step 3: File a Takedown (DMCA Notice)

Every major platform has a copyright reporting process:

TikTok: Report → Intellectual Property Infringement → Copyright
YouTube: Copyright → Submit a copyright takedown → Web form
Instagram: Help Center → Report → Intellectual Property
Spotify/Apple Music: Contact their copyright teams directly

You’ll need:

Your contact information
Description of your original work
Link to the infringing content
A statement that you believe in good faith the use is unauthorized
A statement under penalty of perjury that your information is accurate

Step 4: Consider Legal Action (If Significant)

If the infringement is significant (commercial release, substantial revenue generated):

Consult an entertainment attorney
If your song is registered with the Copyright Office, you have stronger legal tools
Organizations like Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts may provide free or low-cost assistance

Content ID Explained Simply

What Is Content ID?

Content ID is YouTube’s system (and similar systems exist on other platforms) that automatically scans uploaded videos for copyrighted content. Think of it as a giant music recognition system — like Shazam for copyright enforcement.

How It Works

1. A rights holder uploads a “reference file” (the original song) to Content ID
2. When anyone uploads a video, Content ID checks it against all reference files
3. If there’s a match, the rights holder can choose to:
– Track the video (just monitor views and stats)
– Monetize the video (place ads and collect revenue)
– Block the video (prevent it from being viewable)

What This Means for BuyDemoTracks Users

For Songwriters:

If you’ve registered your songs with Content ID (through a distributor like DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, etc.), Artist Performances of your Hooks may trigger claims
You MUST whitelist Platform-facilitated Performances. Our Songwriter License Agreement requires this.
If you haven’t registered with Content ID, you don’t need to worry about this — but it also means you’re not collecting revenue when others use your music

For Artists:

If you get a Content ID claim on a Performance you created through BuyDemoTracks, don’t panic
Contact us at support@buydemotracks.com — we’ll work with the Songwriter to resolve it
Do NOT file a dispute with the platform until you’ve contacted us first. The claim may be legitimate (from the Songwriter’s Content ID registration), and we can get it resolved faster than the platform’s dispute process.

The Short Version

Content ID is a tool that helps songwriters track and monetize their songs across the internet. It’s generally a good thing. If it causes issues with your BuyDemoTracks Performances, we’ll help sort it out.

Quick Reference Card

Still Have Questions?

Email: support@buydemotracks.com
Copyright Office: copyright.gov
ASCAP: ascap.com
BMI: bmi.com
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: vlany.org

This guide is updated periodically. Last reviewed: February 14, 2026.

Copyright Guide