How to sign up and register

1. Choose the PRO you want to affiliate with. A U.S. writer generally affiliates with one U.S. PRO at a time.
2. Create the writer account on the PRO's official site and complete its identity, agreement, tax/payment and contact requirements.
3. Save the IPI / CAE assigned to the writer.
4. If you self-administer publishing, follow your PRO's current instructions for the publisher share or publisher affiliation.
5. Open the PRO's work-registration tool and register this composition using the title, writers, roles, shares, IPI numbers and publisher information shown below.
6. Return here and save the work/reference number and confirmation date.

How to sign up and register

1. Go to The MLC Portal and create a user account. The MLC uses identity verification during signup.
2. If you administer your own works, create the Member that will receive and administer your digital mechanical royalties.
3. Before creating a duplicate work, search the MLC catalog for the song.
4. If it is missing, register the work with its title, writers, writer roles, IPI numbers, publisher/admin information and collection shares.
5. Link the recording title, artist and ISRC when available to improve matching.
6. Return here and save the MLC song code/reference and registration status.

How to file

1. Choose Single, Standard or Group based on the facts of your filing. Publishing Sessions can flag obvious conflicts, but the Copyright Office determines eligibility.
2. Select what the claim covers: Music / Composition, Lyrics, Sound Recording / Master, or an eligible combination.
3. For a Group filing, choose the applicable group option and select the eligible songs being filed together.
4. Open eCO and complete the application with the title, authorship, claimant/ownership, completion year and publication information.
5. Upload or send the deposit copy required for that filing. Your stored audio, lyrics and sheet music can be used to prepare the deposit, but the exact requirement depends on the application and publication status.
6. Review, certify, pay and submit the Copyright Office filing yourself.
7. Return here and save the case number, registration number, dates and certificate/confirmation.

How to get and use an ISRC

1. If your distributor will assign ISRCs, select that option above and do not create a second code for the same recording.
2. If you want to assign your own U.S. ISRCs, apply with the U.S. ISRC Agency as the recording rights owner.
3. After receiving a Rights Owner Prefix, assign a unique ISRC to this specific recording/version according to the agency's rules.
4. Keep the same ISRC with that recording when it moves between distributors.
5. Save the final ISRC here so it can be reused for SoundExchange, distribution and matching.

How to sign up and claim the recording

1. Decide whether you are registering as a Performer (featured artist), Sound Recording Copyright Owner, or Both.
2. Create the SoundExchange account and complete its identity, payment and contact requirements.
3. After registration, open SoundExchange Direct.
4. Search for the recording and claim/manage the repertoire using the recording title, artist and ISRC.
5. If you are only a songwriter/publisher and neither a featured performer nor master owner, this is generally not your songwriter royalty registration.
6. Return here and save the claim/account reference and status.

How Content ID usually works

1. Confirm that you control the exclusive rights required for the reference recording and territories being claimed.
2. Check whether your distributor or rights administrator already offers YouTube Content ID before applying for direct access.
3. If using an administrator, provide the eligible reference recording and its title, artist, ISRC and rights information.
4. Direct Content ID access is limited to copyright owners who meet YouTube's eligibility criteria and demonstrated-need requirements.
5. Save whether the song is handled via distributor, administrator, direct access or not applicable.