Ownership Matters: Protect, Distribute, and Monetize Your Creative Work

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, intellectual property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets a creator can own. Whether it’s a song, book, screenplay, podcast, or multimedia project, protecting your work ensures that you control how it’s used, shared, and monetized—not someone else.

Unfortunately, too many creatives finish their work (a song, a script, a novel) and rush to release it without first securing legal ownership, setting up distribution, or positioning it for revenue.

Here’s a breakdown of what every creator should know to ensure your IP is locked in and legally tied to you – before the public ever hears it, reads it, or sees it.

This article breaks down the essential steps to help you protect and profit from your intellectual property—across industries.

🎵 After the Mix & Master: What Every Music Artist/IP Entity Should Do

So, your song is done. It’s mixed, mastered, and ready to be released to the world. Now what? Before you hit “upload,” here’s what needs to happen:

✅ Step 1: Register Your Copyright

• U.S. Copyright Office (or equivalent in your country)

  
  

  Secure your legal rights to the composition (lyrics & melody) and the sound recording.

  • You can register each song individually OR file a Group of Unpublished Works (up to 10 songs) in one application for a single fee.

  • Pro Tip: The best option for independent artists is to wait until you’ve created a collection of songs and file a group application to save time and cost.

✅ Step 2: Register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)

• Examples: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC (U.S.)

  
  

  PROs collect performance royalties when your music is played on radio, TV, streaming platforms, or in public venues.

  • Register each song with your PRO after copyright registration and before release.

  • ✅ Pro Tip: Choose one PRO only and sign up for both a writer and publisher account under the same organization.

    
    

    Splitting accounts between different PROs can lead to delayed or lost royalty payments. Keeping both under one umbrella simplifies your royalty tracking and ensures full payout.

    • Writer Account: Ties your name as the songwriter or composer.

    • Publisher Account: Ties your business or brand name to the publishing rights.

✅ Step 3: Register with a Mechanical Rights Agency

• Example: The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective, U.S.)

  
  

  This ensures you receive mechanical royalties from interactive streams (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.).

  • Required if you’re a songwriter or publisher with music available in the U.S.

✅ Step 4: Complete a Split Sheet (if collaborating)

• Clarify ownership percentages for lyrics, production, and publishing with collaborators.

• Get it signed before distribution to prevent disputes later.

✅ Step 5: Secure Metadata & Global Music Codes

To properly track, distribute, and monetize your music globally, you need to secure identifiers and codes for your works and your role as a creator:

🎧 ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)

• Unique identifier for each recording (audio or video)

• Assigned by your distributor or mastering engineer

• Needed for royalty tracking and reporting across digital platforms

🎼 ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code)

• Identifier for the composition itself (lyrics/melody), not the recording

• Assigned by your PRO once a song is registered

• Tracks royalties when a composition is used in cover versions, syncs, and remakes

🧬 ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier)

• Global ID for identifying contributors to creative works: writers, performers, producers, etc.

• You can register for an ISNI through Sound Credit or participating organizations

• Used across the music, publishing, film, and research industries to distinguish you from others with similar names

🔢 IPI (Interested Party Information) Number

• Unique number assigned to songwriters and publishers by their PRO (e.g., ASCAP, BMI)

• Links your legal identity to your rights in the musical work

• Essential for collecting performance royalties accurately

🆔 IPN (International Performer Number)

• Assigned to performing artists, often through your PRO or SoundExchange

• Identifies you as the performer on a track, ensuring proper payment from neighboring rights organizations (outside the U.S.)

📦 UPC (Universal Product Code)

• Unique identifier for albums, EPs, or product bundles

• Needed for proper distribution, tracking, and retail analytics

• Often provided by your distribution company (e.g., DistroKid, TuneCore, UnitedMasters)

Pro Tip: Set up a Sound Credit account to organize and verify credits, assign ISNIs, and embed metadata directly into your masters. This helps you get proper recognition and payment across all platforms.

✅ 6. Distribute Your Music on Streaming Platforms

Use distribution companies like:

• DistroKid

• TuneCore

• UnitedMasters

• Symphonic

• Amuse

These services upload your music to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more while providing royalty tracking and reports.

✅ Distribution platforms also provide:

• UPC codes (Universal Product Code)

• ISRCs (International Standard Recording Codes)

• Pro Tip: Get your own codes, the distribution company should be able to provide a UPC code for you

✅ 7. Submit to SoundScan (Luminate)

Depending on the type of music you or your label creates and its intended purpose (e.g. artist collabs, music syncing via commercials, tv/film etc.) Register your releases with Luminate (formerly Nielsen SoundScan) to ensure your music is tracked for charting, particularly Billboard placements.

✅ Billboard only tracks verified sales and streams through this system.

✅ 8. Strategic Placements & Exposure

Explore marketing services and platforms that help get your music placed on:

• Spotify editorial playlists

• YouTube content via sync licensing

• TikTok viral campaigns

• Influencer partnerships

• Radio servicing

• Billboard placements through chart-eligible marketing

These efforts drive trends, visibility, and traffic, helping you go from a local buzz to global traction.

📖 Finished Your Book or Screenplay? Here’s What to Do Next

Protecting your literary or film-based IP follows a similar pattern:

✅ Step 1: Copyright It

• Register your manuscript or screenplay with the U.S. Copyright Office before releasing or sharing it publicly.

• This ensures legal proof of authorship and protects against theft or infringement.

✅ Step 2: Consider WGA Script Registration (for Screenplays)

For screenplays or teleplays, register with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) for additional timestamp protection and creative credit security.

✅ Pro Tip:

While WGA registration is not legally binding like copyright, it offers strong support in case of legal disputes or idea theft.

✅ WGA Membership Path (Writer’s Guild of America, West or East):

To secure full membership, you must accumulate 24 units—usually achieved by landing a production or distribution deal with a major studio, streamer, or broadcast network.

Once you meet the criteria, you’re eligible to pay the associated membership fees and gain full union protections, including access to health benefits, pension plans, and more.

• Writers Guild of America registration timestamps your screenplay and offers additional documentation of authorship.

• While not a replacement for federal copyright, it adds a layer of protection in disputes.

✅ Step 3: Apply for ISBNs (Books)

• Each format (eBook, paperback, audiobook) needs a separate ISBN.

• Purchase through Bowker (myidentifiers.com in the U.S.)

✅ Step 4: Choose Distribution Channels

• For books: Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press

• For screenplays: Coverfly, Stage32, ISA, The Black List

• Be sure your royalties are clearly assigned and set up to flow directly to you or your publishing company.

💼 Legal Protections & IP Tools for All Creators

Regardless of your medium, these tools are essential for long-term ownership:

🛡️ Trademarks

• Protect your brand name, logo, stage name, series title, or signature taglines

• Register with the USPTO to secure brand equity

🔏 NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements)

• Use NDAs before sharing your unpublished work with producers, collaborators, editors, or agents

• A critical first line of defense for protecting your ideas

📜 Work-for-Hire Agreements

• If you hire others (e.g., graphic designers, producers, ghostwriters), have them sign a Work-for-Hire agreement stating that you own the final work—not them.

💡 Distribution + Monetization = Ownership in Action

Creating the work is only half the journey. True ownership begins when your IP is protected, positioned for release, and generating revenue.

Format	Register Rights	Distribute With	Monetize Through
Song	Copyright Office, PRO, MLC, ISRC/ISNI/IPI	DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby	Streaming, Sync Licensing, Merch
Book	Copyright Office, ISBN	Amazon KDP, IngramSpark	Royalties, Audiobooks, Print Sales
Screenplay	Copyright + WGA	Film Marketplaces, Pitch Platforms	Licensing, Script Sales, Production
Multimedia	Copyright + Trademark + Work-for-Hire Docs	YouTube, Substack, Custom Website	Subscriptions, Ads, Licensing

🧠 Final Thoughts: Ownership Is Leverage

No matter what you’re creating, ownership equals leverage. Registering your intellectual property protects your rights, builds your portfolio’s long-term value, and ensures that if your work gains traction, you get paid—not someone else.

Don’t wait for success to happen before protecting yourself—ownership needs to come first.

🔁  What You Can Do Today:

• Wait until you’ve created a group of works, and file a Group of Unpublished Works application with the Copyright Office.

• Sign up with one PRO and register both a writer and publisher account to ensure complete royalty collection.

• Use Sound Credit to track contributors and generate ISNI codes for global metadata accuracy.

• Make sure you have all key codes: ISRC, ISWC, ISNI, IPI, IPN, UPC—your digital fingerprints in the global IP economy.

• Treat your music and creative works like business assets, not just passion projects.