Canadian Song Vault
(Formally the Canadian Song Depository)
The
Song Vault is a special registration service available only to members
in good standing of the Songwriters Association of Canada. If you are not a member click here to learn more about benefits. Download Song Vault forms.
Why register my songs?
Copyright
in Canada is automatic upon the creation of a work, and is owned by the
creator(s). One is not required to do anything to get/obtain copyright,
it is automatic once a song is "fixed" in a tangible form (e.g.
recorded on CD/cassette). The copyright owner has the "right to copy"
the song and controls all uses of the song (e.g. printing, publishing,
mechanical reproduction, synchronization, etc.) unless or until those
rights are assigned to another party.
The Register of
Copyrights in Ottawa will register a title only and your claim to
ownership for a substantial fee, and such a registration is recommended
if you anticipate any formal legal action on a specific title.
Should
a legal action arise, it is important to be able to establish the date
that the creation (song) was in your possession. If you establish this
date prior to submitting your songs to publishers or otherwise
circulating copies, no one else can claim that they had the same
material prior to you. The issue in a legal action is often not who
wrote the song but who wrote it first. In addition to establishing a
date of creation, the copyright owner needs to establish that the
infringer had access to their creation. Therefore, it is recommended
that you keep track of who you send the material to, and when.
Where do my songs go?
Songwriters
has obtained the services of Recall, a professional information
management firm operating in 17 countries across 5 continents. At
Recall's highly secure Canadian information centre, your song deposits
on audio CD/cassette are filed with a barcode tracking system and kept
safe from dust, light, smoke and other harmful impurities to preserve
their longevity.
How do I register my songs?
A
song can only be registered with an official Canadian Song Vault
application form provided by the S.A.C. You can download this form
below, or contact the S.A.C. office to request forms via mail.
Forms
must be completed and returned with a CD or cassette deposit containing
up to a maximum of 12 songs per form, along with the applicable fee and
GST. The application fee for each form is $15, and each song to be
registered is $5. For your convenience, a pricing chart is included below. Note that this form must be printed out and submitted
in physical hard copy along with your CD; you may not submit songs or
forms electronically at this time. The Song Vault is a special
registration service available only to members in good standing of the
Songwriters Association of Canada.
Do my songs remain registered if my membership lapses?
Yes, your songs are registered indefinitely. However, if you or the court need access to your work, you must renew your membership for at least a year.
Where do I find my member number?
Your member number, as well any other membership information is available by logging in and clicking on the
Edit Profile Link in the upper right corner, then choosing
Membership Details. If you are a brand new member, it may take a few days for your number to be displayed. If you do not wish to wait, you may leave the space blank and we will fill it in as long as your membership is up to date.
Please see below for Song Vault fees, with and without membership purchase.
| 1 |
$22.60 |
$82.60 |
$122.60 |
| 2 |
$28.25 |
$88.25 |
$128.25 |
| 3 |
$33.90 |
$93.90 |
$133.90 |
| 4 |
$39.55 |
$99.55 |
$139.55 |
| 5 |
$45.20 |
$105.20 |
$145.20 |
| 6 |
$50.85 |
$110.85 |
$150.85 |
| 7 |
$56.50 |
$116.50 |
$156.50 |
| 8 |
$62.15 |
$122.15 |
$162.15 |
| 9 |
$67.80 |
$127.80 |
$167.80 |
| 10 |
$73.45 |
$133.45 |
$173.45 |
| 11 |
$79.10 |
$139.10 |
$179.10 |
| 12 |
$84.75 |
$144.75 |
$184.75 |
* Fee breakdown: $15 admin fee + $5 per song + 13% HST. If you are already an S.A.C. member, you'd pay this.
** Non-member fee, includes membership (this is the amount you'd put on a cheque/money order if you decide to sign up/renew through the mail along with submitting your Song Vault application). You can also sign up/renew online
Applications for song registration and deposit must:
- be clear, legible and completed in full.
- include the signature of the author for the song(s) being registered.
- include the signature of any co-writers for the song(s) being registered.
- include valid payment for the full applicable registration fee.
- include a single compact disc or audio cassette deposit of all songs being registered. We do not need lyrics.
- identify all songs contained on the compact disc or audio cassette, in the order they appear, in section B (See link below).
To download the Song Vault form click here.