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[linkdead]

Back in 1982 I made a video with a friend of mine for his brothers final project at OSU.  In the video we cover two songs, and have two songs that I wrote.  My buddies brother has a copyright on the video, and at the end it even states it is copywritten, so does that mean that my songs and lyrics are also copywritten? I want to know because I want to upload my video to youtube but I dont want to be ripped off if someone decided they liked the song and stole it from me to make money.

[OMG IP]

If someone else owns the copyright to the video, then the first thing you should do is get permisison to use the video.

[linkdead]

Thats already been done, things are good on this end. All I want to know is if my original songs and lyrics are protected before I put this video up anywhere.

[Kaitlin]

Currently in the US, creations are copyrighted (not "copywritten", BTW) the moment they're "fixed in a tangible medium of expression" -- such as words on paper or video on film, tape or saved on digital media.  Registration with the copyright office is required before a claim on the copyright can be brought to court, however.  Registering a copyright is quite cheap, incidentally.  Check out the Library of Congress' website on copyright.

NOTE, though, that things get complicated when someone creates a work which uses another person's copyrighted material.  The rights of the new creation are said to be "derivative" or derived from the original work.  Did you and your friends have permission from the copyright holders of the music and lyrics for the songs you covered?  Important point.  Wouldn't look too good to be arguing copyright infringement while violating copyright yourself.

And, you might want to consider whether the video should mention not only the copyright of the videographer, but also the copyright holders of the various pieces performed and the fact that they are "used by permission" -- assuming that's true as it should be.