Your lyrics are your most personal creation — and one of the easiest to steal. This guide shows songwriters, topliners and ghostwriters exactly how to protect song lyrics before sharing them with anyone.
Lyrics are the most frequently copied element in music. They're plain text — easy to screenshot, copy-paste, or claim. Unlike a beat or a master file, your lyrics can be stolen with a single copy-paste, and proving you wrote them first requires a timestamped proof.
A topliner sends a hook to a producer. The producer uses the melody with a different artist and different words — but the structure, flow and rhyme scheme are identical. No timestamped document. No proof. The topliner has no case, even though the hook was clearly theirs first.
The bottom line: copyright protects your song lyrics automatically — but without a timestamped proof of creation, it's nearly impossible to enforce. Protect first, share after.
| Lyric element | Copyright protected | When to deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Complete song lyrics | Yes — fully protected | Before sending to composer or artist |
| Hook / chorus draft | Yes — if original | Before any co-writing session |
| Verse / bridge / pre-chorus | Yes — if original | Before sharing for feedback |
| Topline (melody + words) | Yes — melody + text | Before sending to producer |
| Lyric structure / rhyme scheme | Partial | With full text for stronger proof |
| Song title alone | No — too short | Deposit with full lyrics |
| A lyrical concept / idea | No — ideas aren't protected | Not protectable alone |
PDF, TXT or DOCX — any text format works. You can protect a complete set of lyrics, a rough chorus draft, a topline, or lyrics in any language. The earlier you protect, the stronger your position.
Free registration at app.tunelockr.com — no credit card for the first deposit. No PRO membership required.
TuneLockr calculates a unique cryptographic fingerprint of your lyrics and records it on the Tezos blockchain — immutable proof that these exact lyrics existed at this exact date and time.
Timestamped certificate, eIDAS compliant, valid for life in 170+ countries. Stored in your TuneLockr library. This is your proof of lyric authorship.
Send your lyrics to a producer, artist, publisher, or co-writer — your proof predates the share. If anyone disputes authorship, your certificate is your evidence.
Tezos blockchain · eIDAS standard · Lifetime proof · 170+ countries · No credit card
Protect my song lyrics →Before sending your lyrics to a beatmaker or composer for a melody — deposit first. If the song becomes a hit, your proof establishes the lyrics were yours before the collaboration.
Before any joint writing session — deposit your existing contribution. Your dated certificate defines what you brought to the table before the session started.
Before submitting lyrics to a music publisher or A&R — protect them first. Publishers receive thousands of submissions. Your proof ensures your work stays documented.
Before sending lyrics to an artist to record — even as a demo. If you're writing for someone else (ghostwriting), your proof of prior authorship is essential protection.
Before posting a lyric excerpt on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter — your text is immediately readable and copyable. Protect it before the post goes live.
Before submitting lyrics to a songwriting competition — protect first. Competitions expose your lyrics to many readers and judges.
Ghostwriters and topliners face unique challenges when it comes to protecting song lyrics. You write the lyrics, but the credit often goes to the artist — and disputes can arise about who actually wrote what.
Key rule for ghostwriters: even if you're contractually transferring the rights to your song lyrics, your TuneLockr certificate remains your permanent record of authorship. If the artist ever disputes the terms of the agreement, your timestamped proof establishes that you created the lyrics first. Never deliver ghost-written lyrics without protecting them first.
| Method | Speed | Cost | Legal strength | For lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TuneLockr Recommended | 2 minutes | 1st free, from €4.90 | Strong — eIDAS + Tezos | PDF, TXT, DOCX, ZIP |
| U.S. Copyright Registration | Weeks | $35-65 | Very strong (US) | Published works — US market |
| Soleau envelope (INPI) | 15 days | €15 | Good — France | Occasional high-value lyrics |
| PRO registration (ASCAP/BMI/PRS) | Weeks | Membership fees | Royalty collection | After commercial release |
| Email to yourself | Instant | Free | Weak — not reliable | Not recommended alone |
Your TuneLockr certificate, the original lyrics file, the date of first publication or send, and all relevant message/email exchanges. The earlier your proof predates the plagiarism, the stronger your case.
Identify the exact passages copied — hook, verse, rhyme scheme, specific phrases. The more precise the match between your original lyrics and the plagiarized version, the stronger your dossier.
YouTube, Spotify, TikTok — report the violation via their copyright form. Attach your TuneLockr certificate as proof of prior authorship of the lyrics.
Registered letter to the person who plagiarized your lyrics, demanding removal and credit, and referencing your proof of authorship.
If the situation persists, an intellectual property attorney can initiate a copyright infringement action. Your TuneLockr certificate is the central piece of evidence.
The best defense: a TuneLockr certificate dated before the publication of the plagiarized lyrics. That's your irrefutable proof that you wrote the song lyrics first.
To protect song lyrics legally: 1) Upload your lyrics (PDF, TXT, DOCX) to TuneLockr before sharing with anyone — timestamped certificate on Tezos blockchain in 2 minutes, 1st deposit free. 2) Register with your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, SACEM) for commercial royalties. 3) Consider U.S. Copyright Office registration for high-value works. Rule: protect first, share after. Start free →
Yes — song lyrics are protected by copyright as soon as they are written, without formality, under the Berne Convention (180+ countries). But this automatic protection is not provable without a dated proof. If someone claims your lyrics are theirs, you need a timestamped document proving you wrote them first. That's what TuneLockr provides.
Yes — song lyrics are protected by copyright independently from the music. Deposit your lyrics on TuneLockr as a standalone text file (PDF, TXT, DOCX), even before you've found a composer or melody. This is the recommended approach: protect your lyrics before any co-writing session with a musician.
Before any co-writing session, deposit your existing lyric contribution on TuneLockr — full draft, chorus, verse, or topline. This dated deposit clearly establishes what you brought before the session. If a dispute arises about who wrote what, your certificate proves your contribution predated the collaboration.
For ghostwriters: always deposit your song lyrics on TuneLockr before delivering to the artist. Even if you're transferring rights contractually, your proof of authorship is your permanent record. If the artist disputes the terms or claims they wrote the lyrics, your timestamped certificate proves you created them first.
No. Emailing yourself song lyrics is not considered strong proof in most disputes. The timestamp can be challenged and the link between the email and the actual file is easily disputed. TuneLockr uses Tezos blockchain for an immutable, independently verifiable proof — far more reliable.
Complete guide 2026.
Read →Guide for producers.
Read →Guide complet FR.
Lire →Guide ghostwriters FR.
Lire →3 legal methods.
Read →All plans and options.
See →1st deposit free, no CC.
Start →Guide Beathoven 2026.
Lire →Official sources: WIPO — Copyright · U.S. Copyright Office · ASCAP · BMI · PRS for Music · eIDAS Regulation
