Copyright & Ownership Clarity

Protecting Your Rights and Mine

When you record a song over a Stephen Allen Music Group® production, a new legal entity is created: the Derivative Work. To ensure both parties are legally protected, it is vital to understand what you own and what you are licensing.

1. What You Own (The "Topline")

As the Artist/Songwriter, you own 100% of the Topline. This includes:

  • Your unique lyrics.

  • Your vocal melodies.

  • Your vocal recording (the "vocal stems").

When you register your copyright, you are registering your original contribution to the song.

2. What I Own (The "Composition")

Stephen Allen Music Group® (Stephen Allen Mackey) retains 100% ownership of the underlying instrumental composition.

  • The purchase of a license is a grant of use, not a transfer of ownership.

  • You do not have the right to copyright the instrumental music itself as your own work.

3. The "Derivative Work" Registration

When filing a copyright for your completed song (lyrics + beat), you must register it as a Derivative Work.

  • In the Copyright Application: You must list Stephen Allen Mackey as the author of the "Music" and yourself as the author of the "Lyrics" or "Words."

  • Claim Limitation: You must explicitly exclude the "pre-existing musical composition" (the beat) from your claim of ownership.

Why This Distinction Matters

If you accidentally copyright the production as your own:

  1. Material Breach: It constitutes a breach of your licensing agreement, which can lead to the immediate termination of your rights to distribute the song.

  2. Sync Roadblocks: If a TV show wants to use your song, they need "Clean Title." If the copyright is filed incorrectly, the deal will fall through during the legal "clearance" phase.

  3. Content ID Conflicts: Incorrect filings cause "false positives" in the YouTube Content ID system, which can result in your video—and the videos of other licensed artists—being flagged or muted.

The "Safe Filing" Checklist

When submitting your work to the U.S. Copyright Office (or your local equivalent):

  • [ ] Author: List yourself for "Lyrics/Performance."

  • [ ] Author: List Stephen Allen Mackey for "Musical Composition."

  • [ ] Nature of Work: Select "Derivative Work."

  • [ ] Material Excluded: Note that the instrumental music is used under license from Stephen Allen Music Group LLC.

Legal Transparency

My goal is to see your song succeed on a global scale. By following these copyright standards, we ensure that the "chain of title" is professional and ready for major label or film/TV opportunities.

Questions about your filing? If you are a Custom Beat or Exclusive client and your legal team has questions regarding the "Chain of Title," please contact our legal department at [StephenAllen@stephenallenmusic.com].