Anyone know anything about copyrighting a song?

[LaughingBoy1503]

So, I have someone in my life who made a translation of a quite popular song in english to spanish. He is currently attempting to contact the original song creator to see if the song creator would at all be interested in singing his song translation.

He is interested in copyrighting his version of the song but does not have the money to do it. I would love to copyright it for him as a Christmas gift but I am not sure that a song that he did not write, only made a translation of into a different language, can even be copyrighted. Does anyone know if it can be? My guess would be no but I have heard at least one other person tell me that it can.

 

[Lee1]

I think it would depend on whether the original creator had a world wide copyright on it, but I’m not sure.

Perhaps @StephieNorthCo would know?

 

[Joe_5859]

Your friend needs to talk to a lawyer. The government’s copyright FAQ might be of help, too:

https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

The fact that your friend’s work is a translation of someone else’s work would make it a little more complicated, I would think.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The person needs to speak to a lawyer in the country he is in.

Giving legal advice over the Internet is generally not a good practice and we’re not supposed to do it here.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

I’d agree with Tis. It’s a reasonable process, but lots of things can get messed up. Getting in touch with a practicer of law is the best bet.