Filling out official government documents is no easy task. You are probably anxious to rush through this process for the piece of mind it will bring, but please take your time and review everything carefully. It would perhaps be in your best interest to seek legal advice for this process.

More and more each day artists are taking full control over their own music. The traditional way of music business is changing, and independent artists now have the power to do more for themselves instead of relying on larger entities.

A sound recording is "copyrighted" the moment it is stored on some type of phonorecord. A phonorecord can mean anything from tape, CD or vinyl record. To register your sound recording in the official copyright database of the Library of Congress please follow the steps found here.

There are different forms for this process, so please be sure that you do in fact fill out the Sound Recording (SR) copyright form. If the music on your album was co-written consider who actually claims ownership of the material. If someone wrote music for you to use on your album it would be in your best interest to sign a "Work-For-Hire" agreement with him or her. Google it and you should be able to find a document to download inexpensively. You could even try to make your own written agreement. Remember to have all parties sign the agreement.

Applying for a trademark is tricky. If you have a name you would like to trademark, as in band name, it is easiest to file online through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). Be sure to take a look at the TEAS technical tutorial as well as the electronic filing tips. Keep in mind that the review process for your trademark application will take a minimum of about six months. The Trademark office will usually contact you through email once they have looked over your application.