TuneLockr · United Kingdom
Copyright music in the UK: there is no register, so what are your options?
Short answer. In the UK, copyright protects your song automatically from the moment you create and record or write it down. There is no official register, no form and no fee. That also means there is no official certificate to show if someone disputes when your track existed. UK musicians therefore build their own evidence: dated files, sessions, emails, and independent timestamps.
Published by TuneLockr, one of the services compared. Checked on 9 November 2026. General information only, not legal advice; for a dispute, speak to a UK solicitor specialising in intellectual property.
What the UK government says
The UK government’s guidance is explicit: there is not a register of copyright works in the UK, and protection is automatic. You can mark your work with the © symbol, your name and the year, but this does not change the protection you get. For music, copyright in the composition generally lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.
The 5 ways to build evidence, compared
| Opzione | Costo | What you get | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| TuneLockr | First deposit free, then from €4.99 a month, unlimited deposits | File fingerprint anchored on the Tezos blockchain, timestamped certificate anyone can verify | A private service; keep the exact files you deposit |
| Safe Creative | $23 + tax per registration, plans from $12.50 a month; free for open-licensed works (up to 20) | Dated registration in a private international registry | Billed in US dollars; generic, not built for music workflows |
| Solicitor or bank deposit | Professional fees | A sealed copy held by a third party, with a dated record | Costly and slow for many versions |
| PRS for Music | Membership terms apply | Registration of works for royalty collection | Collects royalties; it is not a copyright register |
| Posting it to yourself | A stamp | A postmarked envelope | Weak: it shows when something was posted, not what was inside |
Why a version history beats a single file
Most music disputes are not about a finished master. They are about who had a melody, a hook or a beat first. A history of dated versions (voice memo, demo, rough mix, stems) tells that story far better than one file sealed in an envelope. TuneLockr lets you date each version in minutes, before it leaves your computer, and keeps the certificates in one place.
A simple routine for UK artists and producers
- Date before you send. Before emailing a demo to a label, an artist or a sync agency, timestamp the exact file.
- Keep your sessions. Project files, stems and lyric drafts show how the song was built.
- Agree splits in writing. A split sheet signed by every co-writer avoids most disputes.
- Register with PRS for Music when the song is released, so performances pay you.
- If something goes wrong, gather your evidence and speak to a solicitor before contacting the other side.
FAQ
Can I register copyright in the UK?
No. There is no official UK copyright register. Copyright is automatic; what you can do is keep strong evidence of when your work existed.
Does joining PRS for Music protect my song?
PRS for Music collects royalties for its members’ works. Registering a work with them is about getting paid, not about proving you created it first.
Is the poor man’s copyright valid in the UK?
It is not prohibited, but it is weak evidence: the envelope can be questioned, and a disc or USB stick may not survive. Independent timestamps or a third-party deposit are more convincing.
Start your paper trail today: first deposit free, no credit card. See also: come proteggere una canzone, all comparisons.