Sound recording copyrights and sound recording copyright symbols are specialized and differentiated from printed copyrighted materials. The sound recording copyright symbol, encircled P (similar to © that indicate print copyrights), on a recording label indicates that a sound recording is copyrighted.

Generally speaking, sound recordings are music (and spoken drama or lectures) not included in motion picture or audiovisual works. The appearance of a sound recording copyright symbol on a label indicates that a recording is protected against reproduction, distribution, or performance of recorded audio materials. A copyright is generally in effect from the date of publication or the date of registration. Limited performance rights for digital transmission of sound recordings became effective in 1996 via The Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995, P.L.104-39.

If you are looking into placing a sound recording copyright symbol on your own sound recording, the symbol is generally placed somewhere on the label itself. If you wish to indicate that your recording is copyrighted by printing the sound recording copyright symbol on a label, you will not find that symbol in standard computer word processing software fonts. You may find it in the special Webdings character symbols, however.

If you can’t find a readymade sound recording copyright symbol anywhere in your word processing system, you can create an encircled P symbol in a graphics program and insert the graphic into your label document. Otherwise you can simply write the word “Copyright” or “Copyrighted” on the label to protect your recording.

For website use, there is no HTML code of the sound recording copyright symbol except in some Unicode fonts, which do not display the code correctly on the Web. Inserting an encircle P graphic is the only way of showing the sound recording copyright symbol correctly. Again, however, the word “Copyright” printed somewhere on the web page can indicate that the sound recording is protected.

Sound recordings should be copyrighted as soon as they are published. Information about gaining copyright protection and right to use of the sound recording copyright symbol on any particular recording can be found through government websites or, in the U.S., by writing to: Library of Congress / Copyright Office / 101 Independence Avenue, S.E. / Washington, D.C. 20559-6000.

Copyright registrations become effective upon receipt of material(s) and payment by the Copyright Office. Applications for copyrights and using the sound recording copyright symbol must include the appropriate words “sound recording,” “production,” or “performance.”

This article provides an overview of the sound recording copyright symbol. If you would like to submit an article about sound recording copyright symbol or any other music-related subject, please feel free to do so here at Media Positive Radio.