Copyright Laws

[dmsf]

I'm in Louisiana. My songs were stolen in California. The songs are still on the radio, almost daily.

When I lived in San Diego, I showed my songs to a guy who was visiting some friends of mine in Chula Vista, California. He had said that he was in the music industry. I think his name was Jerry, but I'm not sure. He asked me who I'd like to sing these songs. I said one would be for the Eurythmics, and one for Joan Jett. A couple of years later, I began hearing both songs on the radio, and they were sung by those 2 artists that I had chosen. I was so angry. Each time I hear either of these, I get so angry. I should be making money from these songs every time they are played. I googled to see who they put as the song writer. There were these long, detailed descriptions of how the songs came up. It would have to be such a huge coincidence for these 2 artists to have come up with these songs. I would have to be clairavoyant for this to have been written by them simultaneously as I wrote them. I've been furious about this for years, but just felt like and still feel like I have no way of proving this. Plus, the statute of limitations may apply. I am not sure about that, since the songs play almost daily, even many years after they were written.

 

[FlyingRon]

So you're telling me some guy who might be named Jerry sold songs to a pair of the largest names in rock based solely on hearing you sing them once?

You had five years to bring a claim on this (perhaps only three years if it took place longer ago, the law changed).

 

[dmsf]

reply to flying Ron

I didn't say I sang them. I said I wrote them. He took them into the bathroom with his friend, while they were shooting up or whatever they were doing, and copied them into his notebook. What does it matter how he got them. He stole my songs.

 

[quincy]

I didn't say I sang them. I said I wrote them. He took them into the bathroom with his friend, while they were shooting up or whatever they were doing, and copied them into his notebook. What does it matter how he got them. He stole my songs.

FlyingRon is correct about the statute of limitations barring a copyright infringement claim. In civil copyright actions, you have 3 years to file suit after discovery of the infringement or after it should reasonably have been discovered. For criminal copyright cases, the statute of limitations is 5 years after the infringement occurred.

The statute of limitations is outlined in the Copyright Act, section 507, Limitations on actions.

If you did not register your works, you would have needed to do that before filing a claim anyway. I assume the copyright thiefs registered your songs in their own names long ago.

Sorry, dmsf. It appears you waited too long to pursue a legal action.

Joan Jett and Eurythmics songs are being played on the radio almost daily? Interesting.

 

[justalayman]

Joan Jett and Eurythmics songs are being played on the radio almost daily? Interesting.

My thoughts as well.

 

[Taxing Matters]

Joan Jett and Eurythmics songs are being played on the radio almost daily? Interesting.

On classic rock stations, perhaps that's true.

 

[quincy]

On classic rock stations, perhaps that's true.

I guess that is where you would hear them. But "almost daily?" That sounds a bit of an exaggeration.

 

[Taxing Matters]

I guess that is where you would hear them. But "almost daily?" That sounds a bit of an exaggeration.

Perhaps an exaggeration on any one given station. Who knows what the frequency is when you take all the stations in the country into account? I know some stations play some songs with an annoying frequency.

 

[dmsf]

FlyingRon is correct about the statute of limitations barring a copyright infringement claim. In civil copyright actions, you have 3 years to file suit after discovery of the infringement or after it should reasonably have been discovered. For criminal copyright cases, the statute of limitations is 5 years after the infringement occurred.

The statute of limitations is outlined in the Copyright Act, section 507, Limitations on actions.

If you did not register your works, you would have needed to do that before filing a claim anyway. I assume the copyright thiefs registered your songs in their own names long ago.

Sorry, dmsf. It appears you waited too long to pursue a legal action.

Joan Jett and Eurythmics songs are being played on the radio almost daily? Interesting.

Yes, where I live, we have a classic rock station.

 

[dmsf]

Perhaps an exaggeration on any one given station. Who knows what the frequency is when you take all the stations in the country into account? I know some stations play some songs with an annoying frequency.

Exactly! And yes, it's the classic rock station.

 

[quincy]

Yes, where I live, we have a classic rock station.

Okay. Thanks for the information.

You still don't have a copyright infringement suit to pursue after all this time, though, but you could consult with an IP attorney in your area to confirm.

If you are still writing songs, I recommend you register them with the US Copyright Office before sharing your works with others. Registration is not legally necessary, because copyrights are automatic once a creative and original work is fixed in a tangible form, but registration provides you with benefits should your works be infringed (you become eligible for statutory damages) and registration provides you with the presumption of ownership.

And you need to register your works before suing.

I am sorry you missed out on profiting from your songs.

 

[Just Blue]

Ms. "Sweet Dreams" px hx is of interest.

 

[quincy]

Ms. "Sweet Dreams" px hx is of interest.

There is no one by that name in this thread ...

Never mind. I understand now.

It would be easier to pay the attorney if royalty payments were coming in on the frequently played songs he wrote.

 

[Just Blue]

There is no one by that name in this thread ...

Never mind. I understand now.

It would be easier to pay the attorney if royalty payments were coming in on the frequently played songs he wrote.

Uhhh....You finely "Googled" Annie.

 

[quincy]

Uhhh....You finely "Googled" Annie.

Haha.

I listen to classic rock on occasion but can't remember the last time I heard a Joan Jett or Eurythmics song. The "Sweet Dreams" song is stuck in my head now so I am not exactly pleased with your reference to it.