Can you copyright an album title?
Titles of songs and albums receive limited benefits under trademark law. A band generally cannot register trademark rights in the title of an album or song to prevent other artists from using it. For example, The Replacements released an album titled Let it Be, which of course The Beatles did years before.
Can music albums have the same name?
The answer is yes! U.S. copyright law considers “names, titles, and short phrases” to possess an “insufficient amount of authorship or creativity.” That means song titles aren’t long enough to enjoy the protection of a copyright.
Should I copyright my album cover?
Book covers, album covers, and movie covers are copyrightable. However, fair use, a provision of U.S. copyright law, gives users the right to use copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances. If a use is fair, the user need not notify or seek permission from the copyright holder.
How do I trademark a title?
If you have a series of books, here are the steps you will need to follow to register and protect the title:
- Select the name of your series.
- Do a Trademark Search.
- File the Application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
- Track the progress of your application.
- Achieve Registration.
Do I need to copyright my book title?
Titles aren’t considered intellectual property but are only “short phrases,” which are not eligible to be copyrighted. The Copyright Office doesn’t want titles to be restricted to one book; there may be other works in which the title may be equally usable and appropriate.
Can two music artists have the same name?
Two (or more) bands with the same name. But let’s face it: with millions of bands online, there’s actually a decent chance another active group has exactly the same name as you. And the likelihood two bands with the same name increases if you are managing or working with several artists.
Can artists have the same album name?
You cannot. My approach is to use the scheme – as the album name when the same title is used by more than one album. I also move any guest/featured artist information into the track name and use a common artist. See Grouping tracks into albums for more details.
How do you title cover a song?
Enter the original song title of your cover. Avoid the temptation to edit the title for flavor. Stick to the facts. Hot tip: Don’t put “(cover)” or “cover version” in the title.
Should I put my name on my album cover?
A: Yes. The text on your cover art needs to exactly match the info you entered for your release (artist name, title of the album or single, etc.).
Who owns copyright for album covers?
If you have hired and paid an artist or photographer to create a visual image for your album cover, that artist or photographer will still own the copyright in the work unless that creator has assigned the copyright ownership to you or your band.
Can I put an album cover on a shirt?
It’s risky. You could even get sued because printing a piece of copyrighted artwork on a shirt without permission is essentially stealing. And you’ll likely get caught if you’re going to sell them. But printing one t-shirt for your own personal use is totally fine.