If you’re a songwriter and considering heading out into the material world, there are a few bits of legal garbage which you should definitely try to scope out, like copyrighting your number before you introduce it to the world so you get your due credit.

A copyright is a protection given by the law under U.S. Code Title 17, and is offered for the creative people. When your copyright is granted, you then have the right to print, reprint and copy the work; the right to panhandle or distribute copies of the work, the right to transform or revise the work and the right to perform and record it. But your rights are not total. Like for' musical compositions (called Class E by the government), the performance right is limited to public performances for profits, meaning that you can sing or play anyone else’s song to the public — if it’s not for profit.