From Government Computer News:

The U.S. Copyright Office is opening a new online portal intended to help the office move from a paper-based environment to electronic processing.

The office, a part of the Library of Congress, handles about 550,000 copyright claims annually. Beginning July 1, anyone will be able to use the Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) portal to submit basic claims and copyright applications electronically, make online payments and upload works being registered. Those submitting hard copies of the registered material can generate and print shipping labels. 

Click here to read the entire article.

From .evolving music blog:

As a law student who geeked out on Copyright law, the single most frequent question I’m asked is: “Dude, what the hell is music publishing?” This is a very loaded question that triggers a discussion about music Copyright law and the various royalties that stem from each music Copyright.

Click here to read the entire post. 

If you have recorded a cover version of someone else's song, and you plan to make that recording available over the Internet, the following information applies to you. You must follow these steps BEFORE you make your recording available for distribution to the public!

http://cdbaby.net/dd-covers 

One outlet for marketing your original song material is the traditional route of submitting your compositions to song publishers. Most publishers have far more connections in the business than the average songwriter and are more likely to be able to place your song in a significant project than if you are marketing it yourself.

http://www.discmakers.com/music/ffwd/marksongtips.asp 

What does copyright law say about your rights when an original idea is formed between two or more people? A few principles regarding joint works must be understood by the authors, and the most important principle has to do with ownership.

http://www.discmakers.com/music/ffwd/2005/borg.asp 

When a songwriter assigns a song to a music publisher, the publisher can help in a number of ways. One of the primary roles of the publisher is to secure commercially released recordings, CDs, and tapes of the songs it controls

http://www.ascap.com/musicbiz/ascapcorner/corner1.html

Intellectual Property Law 101: The Power of The Mark by Nancy Prager

Whether you're a recording artist, performing artist, composer or lyricist, all of your artistic expressions - lyrics, music, liner notes, etc - are your most valuable assets and must be diligently protected by you. Legally classified as "Intellectual Property" you can ensure that they are not stolen or misused by someone else - but only if you follow the proper procedures.

  http://www.musiciansatlas.com/newsletter/nov05/copyright11_05.htm

Intellectual Property Law 101: Copyright Now or Cry Later by Nancy Prager.

Whether you pursue the label route or self-release, it is important to realize that the "thing" that you create as an artist is a product, which must be protected. Your songs, music and even your image are all classified as "Intellectual Property" and qualify for a variety of legal protections to ensure that it not be stolen or misused by someone else. As an artist, it is your most important and valuable asset and it is not enough to rely on your managers, agents, or even lawyers, to protect your interests in the works you create.

http://www.musiciansatlas.com/newsletter/oct05/copyright10_05.htm 

You may know that you do not have to register a copyright in order for your work to be protected under U.S. Copyright law. A work is protected the moment it is "created and fixed in a tangible form of expression" (e.g. when it is recorded or written down). That gives you some peace of mind. But proving ownership and establishing your creation date if someone infringes on your rights is often where the controversy begins.

http://www.ascap.com/musicbiz/copyright_tips.html

Publishing rights are the rights to a song. If you write a song by yourself, you own the publishing (and copyright) from the moment you finish the song. You don't have to set up shop as a music publisher to own those rights - they automatically come with authorship.

http://www.taxi.com/faq/publishing/index.html#q1

Before you do anything, and I mean before you do anything, you positively must take this first step: Affiliate you company with ASCAP or BMI. The reason you have to do this first is that these societies won't let you use a name that's the same (or similar to) the name of an existing company.

http://www.taxi.com/faq/publishing/set-up-pub-1.html