Page:Compendium of US Copyright Office Practices (1973).pdf/44

2.6.3

Requirements of registration for musical compositions.

I.

Unpublished musical compositions.

a.

In general. Claims to copyright in unpublished musical compositions may be registered in Class E. (As to publication, see Chapter 3; as to the formalities of registration, see chapters 5, 9, and 10.)

b.

Two or more versions.

1.

When an applicant submits two or more different unpublished arrangements or other versions of the same composition,separate registrations will be encour­aged. A single registration may be considered if the applicant insists, provided the authorship of each version is the same, and a single identifying title is given.

Examples:

(a)

Arrangements of a composition for piano and for dance orchestra

(b)

English, French, and Spanish versions of a popular song, with different lyrics and minor changes in tempo and phrasing

2.

When an applicant submits two or more unpublished versions of the same com­position, in which the only differences are in uncopyrightable elements, they may be registered together on a single application.

Example:

The same music in different keys

[1973]