As if anybody cares, but it could- or maybe it already has - happened to you. You write a song you think has potential, so you copyright and list it with BMI. Then you share it with as many people as you can, hoping to get some positive response. ( always fearing it will be ripped off. ) Because as songwriters we can only hope for the royalty checks to start rolling in. What do ( can ) you do, when you discover your song has been recorded by several artists all claiming rights to your song. Do you just suck-it-up-cowboy? Is there some sort of remedy? How would you proceed? Don't tell me-Get A Lawyer-because unless you know one that isn't designed to make the all the profits - his/her own- that won't help me - or you if you were in my shoes. The song is Called " Mother/ The Gift". I wrote it for my mothers 60 birthday, hoping that if it ever became successful, I could help support her with the royalties. ( I'm just a poor musician, as many of you have recognized.) I am also..; Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I do have feelings and dreams. I discovered my song on several Irish Artists recordings. I don't know what the copyright laws are in Ireland, but these recordings are being sold in the US.
Uh...I'd get a lawyer. Unless of course you are well versed in international copyright law. No? Get a lawyer. Yeah, they'll take a fee. But what do you have now?
And while you are looking for a law-yer... can you establish the creation date? If you can establish this, is it supported in any credible way,e.g, via US copyright?
With the support of these items/documents, you could contact the Irish-sters in question and present your case. Document all communique between you and they as well.
I personally wish someone with standing would lift one of my tunes. I would springboard off of that, use it to my advantage. Maybe go on a small regional tour.
Thank you for your responce BC. Thought maybe you might have just a little better insite to this problem that might help younger upcoming artists. I have aready persued the liar (lawyer) route. I was hoping we could think outside the box. Things, they are a changing. (Bob Dylan) 1960's. What Now!
