# Easiest way to accomplish copyright protection of music in Canada **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-accomplish-copyright-protection-of-music-in-canada/475066 "2008-11-30T17:29:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-accomplish-copyright-protection-of-music-in-canada/475066/1 "2008-11-30T17:29:33Z")
Can one simply record/write one’s own music down and then mail to one’s self, registered, and not open it? Furthermore, would that then apply to both Canadian and US jurisdictions? How about worldwide? What’s the cheapest and easiest way to accomplish the establishment of copyright on one’s music? In Canada. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-accomplish-copyright-protection-of-music-in-canada/475066/2 "2008-11-30T17:40:43Z")
> [@Standup\_Karmic](#): > > Can one simply record/write one’s own music down and then mail to one’s self, registered, and not open it? Furthermore, would that then apply to both Canadian and US jurisdictions? How about worldwide? Don’t know about Canada, but this mailing it to yourself business is total bunk in the US. All the usual copyright FAQs dismiss it. These are US-centric and US IP law varies in some important ways from international standards, I don’t know where to find the equivalent Canadian FAQs. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-accomplish-copyright-protection-of-music-in-canada/475066/3 "2008-11-30T18:43:36Z")
Canada doesn’t require copyright registration, so all you have to do is say you have copyright. According to the [Canadian copyright page](http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/en/wr00506e.html#no8) > [@](#): > > When you create a work or other subject matter protected by copyright, you will automatically have copyright protection provided that, at the time of creation, you were: > a Canadian citizen or a person ordinarily resident in Canada; Put a copyright notice on the work and you’re protected (and you may even have protection if you don’t – check the copyright page). ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-accomplish-copyright-protection-of-music-in-canada/475066/4 "2008-12-01T04:24:16Z")
IANAL, and I don’t know anything about Canada’s copyright registration process, but depending on why you’re asking, you may want to register the copyright anyway. Under U.S. law, copyright is automatic on creation of the work in question. But if you want to sue someone for infringement, you must register the work properly in order to receive statutory damages. If you have failed to do so, there’s no point in suing an infringer. A “moral” victory would certainly be a financial disaster. If the same is true under Canadian law, and you have a reasonable concern about infringement, then you should be sure to fully understand the copyright process and apply it appropriately.