If you want to register copyright for your music without getting lost in paperwork, this comparison saves you time. We review the four real routes, with their timings, cost and who each one suits.
1. Public copyright registry
What it is: the official state registry. Timing: weeks to several months. Cost: a fee per work. Upside: strong legal presumption. Downside: slow and impractical if you release several works a month.
2. Notarial deposit
What it is: a notary certifies that on a given date you handed over that content. Timing: days. Cost: high per work. Upside: very solid evidence. Downside: the price makes it unviable for large catalogues.
3. Collecting societies
What it is: declaring the work in order to collect royalties. Careful: collecting is not the same as proving authorship. They are complementary, not substitutes.
4. Blockchain registration
What it is: the file's hash (a unique fingerprint) is written with date and time to a public, immutable network. Timing: minutes. Cost: very low per work. Upside: instant, verifiable by anyone, and it never exposes the content. Downside: it is technical evidence rather than an administrative filing, so your provider should issue a documented certificate.
Quick decision guide
- You release occasionally and want the official stamp: public registry.
- You have one high-value case: notary.
- You want to collect from radio, TV and live: collecting society, on top of registration.
- You release often and need to protect each version before sharing it: blockchain.
How MusicDibs does it
- You upload the file (audio, lyrics, score or project).
- You set authors and ownership percentages.
- The hash is generated and written to blockchain via iCommunity.
- You download a PDF certificate with hash, date, authors and percentages, independently verifiable.
The first work is free and we charge no commission on your streaming royalties. Start from the music registration page.
FAQ
Is blockchain registration legally valid? It is admissible evidence: it proves the existence and integrity of a file on a given date. Weighing it up is the court's job, as with any documentary evidence.
Can I register a demo? Yes, and you should: priority in time is won at the demo stage, not after release.
What about AI-made songs? Register the final version and document your human contribution. We compare creative and protection-first platforms in MusicDibs vs Udio.
The most cost-effective move is the simplest one: register today the song you release tomorrow. Start for free.