Dear Expert lawyers,I would like to ask about copy right ownership. I am a burmese musician, currently living at australia. I composed many songs at burma. What happen now is.. I sold my songs to one of the famous singer at burma for one time release contract. But, I am just aware of copy right registration at US Copy right office under his name. I have valid documents which show he has no right to claim the copy right sole ownership. Now, he is selling the songs in i tunes as well.I wondered did the US copy right office check properly? As one of the world poorest country, the legal and copy right system is not well developed at Burma. So, i would like to request the expert suggestion for my case how should i do. Should I contact US copy right office and sort it out ? Thanks.Your sincerelyMaung
Optional Information: Country relating to Question: Burma Already Tried: - Contacted to the singer and told him to stop selling the songs on i tune until all matters have been sorted out. But, they didn't follow, and didn't do any resolution, still selling the songs. - I have original works (hand written works) of my creation as well as censorship office approved documents with particular dates.
If he has registered a US Copyright for your actual songs and not for his performance of the songs (since both can be copyrighted separately) then you would have to proceed to file a copyright lawsuit in the US Federal Court to challenge his rights to the song. To find out, you can seek to register the copyright of the lyrics and music at http://www.copyright.gov online for $35 USD. If they reject the copyright because this other person has registered them, then you would have to file suit in the US Courts. Also, when you sold him the song, you only gave him license and rights for that one time release, but he could copyright that performance as well. This will need to be determined by the US Copyright Office and if he went beyond what you licensed him for, then suit would have to occur in the US.
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Experience: Attorney practicing all aspects of copyright/trademark law