How do I check a song that I've downloaded for copyrights?

I need to know how I can find out whether a song I downloaded is copyright or not.

How do I check a song that I've downloaded for copyrights?
EACH SONG THAT YOU HEAR OR SEE LYRICS IS COVERED BY SOME KIND OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION EVEN IF THE COPYRIGHT FEE IS NOT PAID OR COPYRIGHT PROTECTION APPLIED FOR


even an average lawyer will screw you in court even if copyright fee is not paid because as soon as something is published and you copy it - you knew that it was not your thing and you did it - in other words you stole it - for personal use you can be liable in certain cases - there is a fair use rule - but nobody cares much but if you do it for commercial purposes and right person finds out you are just screwed from the day one in court -


copyright law does not apply any more 80 yrs after authors death - legal term is that work is now in public domain or if the work from the beginning is in public domain (government documents for example) or if it is done under special agreement


(that is case in GNU - Linux but you have to follow the rules under that agreement) or if nobody knows who the author is nobody can do anything in that case too but in this case it is assumed that the work has been in public domain since the very first day -


in case of music reason is simple - big names would just listen to no names singers and bands and rip off their good songs - that can't be done
Reply:If you know the name of the composer, you can check on-line at ASCAP, BMI or SECAM sites. If they are collecting performance royalties, then its copyrighted. You can also check by song title, but some titles are not unique and they don't have a midi player so you can hear the melody.
Reply:If you mean your actual copy of the song,and your running windows,right click,go to properties,and go to the last tab,media rights i think.That will tell you if it is copy protected or not.
Reply:If it's commercial and available for sale on iTunes or on a CD, it's under copyright.