What Is the Difference Between Copyright Form PA and Form SR?
Key Takeaways
- You can use copyright forms to register your creative works with the U.S. Copyright Office.
- Form PA is for performing arts, including musical compositions and dramatic works.
- Form SR is for sound recordings in a fixed medium.
Copyright registration is vital for protecting your intellectual property rights. But when you register your music, lyrics, or sound recordings, you have to use the proper registration form. Copyright forms come in several different types, including Form PA and Form SR. Form SR is for sound recordings, and Form PA is for works of the performing arts. But some recordings can fall between these types of work.
For more information about music copyright laws, talk to an intellectual property lawyer for legal advice.
What Copyright Forms Do You Need for Words and Music?
The U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) registers and records copyright claims, which help protect your intellectual property rights. As a copyright claimant, you can register your applications online through the electronic Copyright Office (eCO). There are different copyright forms, including:
- Form TX (literary works)
- Form VA (visual arts works)
- Form PA (performing arts)
- Form SR (sound recordings)
These forms are for registering different types of copyrightable subject matter embodied in a recording. Form PA is for registering music and lyrics as well as other works of the performing arts, even if your song is on a cassette. Form SR is for registering the performance and production of a particular recording of sounds.
For copyright purposes, sound recordings and performances are separate works. The authors of a sound recording are the performers, producers, and sound engineers. The authors of a performance are the writers and composers.
When Do You Use Form PA for Dramatic Works?
According to the USCO, Form PA is for works of the performing arts recorded on disks or cassettes. This includes musical compositions and dramatic works. If the underlying work is a composition or dramatic performance, use Form PA.
Form PA is for published or unpublished works of the performing arts. Performances directly or indirectly for an audience are performing arts. This includes:
- Musical works and accompanying words
- Dramatic works and accompanying music
- Pantomimes and choreographic works
- Motion pictures
- Other audiovisual works
When Do Songwriters Use Form SR?
Use Form SR for published or unpublished sound recordings. A sound recording is a fixed performance of musical, spoken, or other sounds. Audio portions of audiovisual works, like a motion picture soundtrack, are part of the audiovisual work.
Form SR is for sound recordings only, not any accompanying dramatic or literary work. But you can use Form SR when also registering the underlying musical, dramatic, or literary work in the recording.
Do You Need to File Both Form SR and Form PA?
Sound recordings and performances are separate works, and you can license their use separately. You’ll get two separate copyright claims with the Library of Congress. You’ll also have to pay separate registration fees.
You can also file separate copyright applications if the claimant for the sound recording and musical work are different. You can file separate applications for separate registrations for the performance work and the sound recording.
For example, a songwriter who performs and records their own composition can submit one application for the composition and recording. If you are performing a song written by someone else, you can file an application for the recording only.
What Are My Copyright Protection Rights?
Your copyright protections give you exclusive rights against unauthorized use of your work. Under copyright law, you don’t have to register your performance or recording for protection. As soon as you put your work down in a tangible form, it is protected.
However, copyright registration offers additional protections, including statutory penalties. If you register your work and someone infringes on it, you can sue for up to $30,000, or even up to $150,000 for a “willful” infringement.
How Can a Copyright Lawyer Help With Registration and Copyright Infringement Claims?
Registering your sheet music, musical performance, or other creative work will protect you against unauthorized use. With music sampling and artificial intelligence scraping the internet, your creative works could be at risk of theft.
Copyright infringement cases are complex and costly. A dedicated intellectual property lawyer can answer your legal questions and represent you in copyright infringement cases.
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Get peace of mind. Work with experienced intellectual property lawyers in our directory to protect and profit from your hard work.
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