Dylan and Adams File Paper For Copyrights

The artists want song copyrights.

Bob Dylan, Bryan Adams and Tom Petty have filed legal papers with America's Copyright Office in a bid to gain control of the rights to their music.

From 2013, artists in the U.S. will be able to regain their rights to recordings put out more than 35 years ago by their record label, as long as they apply two years in advance.

Several stars, including Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Waits and Charlie Daniels have also filed official papers, reports the New York Times.

Eagles star Don Henley, part of the Recording Artists Coalition, which seeks to protect the rights of musicians and songwriters, tells the publication, "Artists getting their masters back is a personal issue. I don't want to presume to speak for others, but I know that I want mine back.

"I look at my masters as something I created. The artists create these works and they should own them. It's as simple as that."