PUBLISHED. PROPERLY.
The writers of a song's melody and lyrics own the composition copyright from the moment it is fixed, split according to what they agree, or equally by default if nothing is agreed. That split has to be documented and registered with the relevant collection society before royalties can be paid out correctly. A signed split sheet, made at the time of writing, is the strongest proof of who wrote what.
Writer splits signed at the source, registered with the right societies, so the money reaches the right names.
LAST REVIEWED
THE SITUATION
Songwriting is a business built on invisible ownership. A co-write happens in an afternoon, a demo goes out that evening, and the shares live in whoever's memory is loudest.
The gap between writing a song and registering it is where publishing money leaks. When the collection society finally pays out, the split that was obvious in the room is a fight in an email chain.
WHAT BREAKS.
Unsigned co-writes
A room of four writers can walk away with four different memories of who wrote the hook, and without paper, the collection society has no way to pay correctly.
Missed registration
Songs earn royalties from the day they are performed or streamed, but registration often happens months later, if at all, meaning money sits unclaimed or gets misdirected.
Publisher overreach
Some publishing deals claim rights over future work, remixes or translations of a song well beyond the original composition being signed.
Unrecorded topline ownership
Toplines sent to producers with no accompanying agreement leave no record of what melody and lyric rights were granted versus retained.
Cross-border split confusion
Collaborators in different territories can have different legal defaults for what an unsigned agreement is worth, complicating a split that felt simple in the room.
WHAT YOU CAN OWN.
COPYRIGHT
Composition copyright covers melody and lyrics and exists automatically on creation, separate from any recording.
TRADEMARK
A songwriter's professional name or pen name can be trademarked if used to sell services or merchandise.
DESIGN RIGHT
Design right protects visual appearance of products, not written or musical compositions.
PATENT
A composition is not an invention, so it cannot be patented under any jurisdiction.
TRADE SECRET
An unpublished song can be kept confidential by contract, but this is not a trade secret in the patent-law sense.
LIKENESS
Songwriting itself does not involve a person's image or voice, so likeness rights typically sit with the performer, not the writer.
FOUR STEPS.
DROP
Add every writer in the session and the working title before you leave the room.
EXAMINE
Deed checks the split against publishing deals already on file and flags conflicts.
EXECUTE
Everyone signs the split sheet, and Deed hands off to registration with the correct societies.
DEFEND
A sync or a cover request is met with paper: the split, the terms and the signatures already recorded.
KEY FACTS
- 01Composition copyright and recording copyright are legally distinct and can be owned by entirely different people.
- 02A split sheet has no fixed legal form; any signed document naming the writers and their shares can serve as one.
- 03Collection societies pay out based on registered splits, not on what was actually agreed if it was never registered.
- 04A co-writer who contributes lyrics or melody has a claim even without a formal credit, unless they assign it away.
- 05Publishing deals can be structured as full assignment, co-publishing, or administration, each transferring different rights.
QUESTIONS
+Can I split a song differently per territory?
Yes. Deed lets you record territory specific splits and shows collectors and publishers what applies where.
+What if a co-writer refuses to sign later?
Deed keeps the timestamped record of the session and the offer to sign, which is often enough to release the money the society is holding.
+Do I need Deed if I already have a publisher?
Yes. Publishers register what you give them. Deed makes sure what you give them is right.
+What counts as a co-write for splitting purposes?
Any contribution to the melody, lyrics or chord structure typically counts. Simply suggesting a title or vibe usually does not, unless the group agrees otherwise.
+How fast should I register a new song?
As soon as possible after writing it. Delayed registration is one of the most common reasons publishing royalties go unpaid or get misdirected.