Questions tagged [music]
For questions about laws applying to musical works, recording and performance.
161
questions
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1answer
25 views
What legal rights does ownership of music grant me?
I am looking into music distribution service called TuneCore and can see the following in the terms of music distribution:
(b) By clicking the “I Agree” button, you irrevocably grant to Company, ...
0
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0answers
20 views
How does licesing of lyrics work / get monetized? [closed]
Monetizing songs is usually through streaming services like spotify (not before a middleman takes a cut- ditto / distrokid). But how do I monetize my lyrics? for example how do i push it to all the ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
What if a copyright registration service goes bust?
When I create a song I immediately upload it to dropbox. That way I can make sure I can recover it if my hard drive is failing (as i don't have redundancy) but also to show I have a tangible form of ...
0
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1answer
31 views
Examples for songs copyright violation
it looks like you have to learn from examples of what constitutes copyright violation when sampling someone else's tune for example in a hip hop song (or even in a rap song).
I used search engine ...
1
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1answer
33 views
How similar should a tune be to constitute theft of someone else's tune?
i am a composer of hip hop songs. As opposed to rap songs, hip hop songs are very melodic by nature. now sometimes i get inspired by someone else's tune, or write my own tune and then find out ...
0
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1answer
28 views
When to publish my song
When i work on a song i usually start with the beat. I then add some lyrics and change their melodic composition until it fits with the beat. i then do improvement, for example try singing like a girl ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Music- what if I move or cancel distribution service
Suppose a songwriter wants to use a distribution service to push songs to spotify. From reviews on YouTube all of the distributors (ditto, distro kid, ccd babe etc.) they all have their influencers ...
0
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0answers
22 views
Liability as a songwriter- should I use limited company and have insurance?
I am a shadow writer of rap and hip hop hits that haven't been published yet. I read on the internet that it is advised to musicians to
have a limited company
have an insurance
but most of the ...
5
votes
1answer
119 views
Would I be violating copyright by transcribing music that was written over 100 years ago, but published in 1992?
A particular set of piano rolls were recorded before 1913, but to my knowledge were not published until 1989. The recordings are piano transcriptions of symphonic works, performed by their composer/...
0
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1answer
59 views
In the US, is it legal to download mashup songs from YouTube for personal use?
Let's take for example the song Viva la Pompeii, a mashup of Pompeii by Bastille and Viva La Vida by Coldplay, both copyrighted songs. As far as I can tell, the mashup itself is not copyrighted.
If I ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Is there a licensing recourse to recycling a riff?
I don't mean covering a song and making a few changes to the arrangement; there are mechanical licenses for that. I don't mean sampling, because this involves recording, and I'm thinking of playing ...
4
votes
2answers
255 views
Are the title and author of a song protected by copyright?
I am developing a platform where users can search songs by BPM and Key.
The only thing that came to my mind is: can I show songs' titles and authors after the user does a search, without violating the ...
0
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1answer
49 views
Do I need a license to play music on free internet radio?
I want to make an internet radio station where I play music I like. If there are no adds and I don't make any money whatsoever, do I need to worry about copyright?
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Use a Netflix Show Title in a Product [closed]
I'm a music arranger, and I am preparing a series of string quartet pieces. I want to use an "Inspired by the Netflix series 'Bridgerton'" phrase (or some such phrasing) on the packaging and ...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
Is it ok to set up a private music website without royalties? [closed]
Suppose that there is a private band. They occasionally record covers for the fun of it, they don't distribute, sell, or perform live so don't require any permission / royalties for their covers. ...
1
vote
1answer
100 views
Is a teacher playing music in the hallway legal?
I am a highschooler in Alabama (USA) in a school of 700 or more (not 100% sure). When walking through the school, there is a teacher playing music into the hallways.
The issue is that the songs she ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
Can the copyright status for unreleased musical work expire
This may be an iterative of a common question, though I feel the specific scenario justifies asking. Is there an established guideline regarding the longevity of copyright protection status for an ...
0
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0answers
18 views
If my app is published in multiple countries, which jurisdiction does it fall under? [duplicate]
If I submit my app to Korean Appstore, but if it's also published in other countries' appstores as well (US, Japan, Mexico, etc), which country's jurisdiction does my app fall under? If it falls under ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Creating a cover song for a video game
Based on some cursory internet searches, I understand the following:
If you create a cover song, you still need a license for it from whoever owns the original song.
If you want to put a song in a ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Are Midi files copyrighted?
If I have a midi file of a public domain work, it the midi file copyrighted? This is a question that is related to this thread/question: Can I use public domain midi files commercially?
0
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1answer
171 views
Can I use public domain MIDI files commercially? [closed]
Lets say I made professional music with the hope of selling them from public domain MIDI files. The files would have been modified slightly with the notes arranged slightly differently. Would that be ...
0
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0answers
77 views
What are the legal actions that can be taken against me and my app for breaching the YouTube Terms and Conditions?
Suppose, I create an Android app that streams music/songs illegally by playing them in a YouTube player while hiding the player view, and also allows downloading the videos offline both of which are ...
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1answer
54 views
How do I give all the right credit to the Harry Potter company and John Williams if I create a variation on the theme song? [closed]
I want to know how do I give all the right credit to the Harry Potter company and John Williams if I create a variation on the theme song for it and if I plan to sell it. I don't want to be sued by ...
0
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1answer
42 views
I want to do a piano tutorials platform and I have copyrights question [closed]
We are working on a solution to learn the piano, like this one, or this one.
I have read that for each song that I will add on the platform, I'll need to have the permission of the artist (and we will ...
3
votes
1answer
117 views
Is it allowed to use a copyrighted music track on a video, but without integrating the audio into the video?
It's generally known that if you use a song to create a music video, you must have obtained a master use license to publish the track as a part of the music video, and also a synchronization license ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Music in private online social gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic
Me and a small group of friends (10 people) are going to have a party. Normally, we would meet each other at someones home. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everybody will stay at their own ...
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Uploading purchased (edited) music to YouTube
Say that a hobbyist DJ purchases CDs, digital tracks and what are known as mixtapes (free music) and slows them down or things like that. If that DJ wants to share the result of this, is it legal to ...
0
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1answer
61 views
Copyright of a children's song with no author or date information
As a follow-up on Copyright of children's folklore songs, artist A wants to use the melody of "Five little ducks". The song is not on the list of public domain songs. A sound recording ...
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0answers
119 views
Is the .exe file format copyrighted by Microsoft in a creative naming capacity?
I wanted to know if the name of the .exe file format used by Microsoft Operating Systems is copyrighted. As in, is it possible that I'm committing copyright infringement by adding that suffix ("....
0
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0answers
15 views
What rights do lyricists usually grant to composers for musical productions? [duplicate]
Suppose a poet is contacted by a composer inspired by his/her poetry, and they agree to use a few of his/her poems in the composer's new orchestral production (which will be released as a CD). They ...
-2
votes
1answer
28 views
Royalty split between a singer/songwriter and composer/producer [closed]
I have written the lyrics to a song, came up with the melody and paid a composer to translate it into musical notes and create the song (with instruments). I paid for his services. Now, I want to ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Playing copyrighted music legally -> personal and small group usage
I play guitar. I just want to know what is legal or not regarding my playing copyrighted music. I understand that performing in public (whatever that means!? Formal event? More than just me? Other?))...
2
votes
2answers
70 views
Copyright of children's folklore songs
Suppose artist A wanted to include a song to the tune of a children's nursery rhyme, such as Pretty Little Dutch Girl. This song was written in the 1940s, so if the composer was Australian, it would ...
0
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0answers
23 views
If I were to transcribe someone's arrangement of a copyrighted piece and credit them, would I violate copyright laws? [duplicate]
I was wanting to transcribe an arrangement of a song from YouTube and make the sheets available on MuseScore, giving credit to the arranger. The arranger hadn't made any sheet music of their ...
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votes
2answers
95 views
Can I get sued if someone uses a song on my app without proper copyrights?
I have a small social media sort of app, if some user were to use a song on my platform without proper copyrights can the platform(my app) get sued ?
No there is no monetization for user.
1
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2answers
72 views
Can music publishers/agents demand service fees for compulsory copyright licenses
By my reading of the compulsory copyright licensing rules, if I want to record a cover of a song and sell one copy of it, I would need to obtain a license, but if I send in a proper notice along with ...
-3
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1answer
50 views
Copyright laws on music instrumental tracks?
First off, I know very little about the law whatsoever - so please bear with me on this one! :) In my spare time, I've being making instrumental accompaniments to some of my favourites musicals and ...
0
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0answers
62 views
Risk/Information Regarding Copyright/Trademark Violation
I have previously participated in the illicit accessing of files (music, etc.) that were most likely copyrighted/trademarked/etc. as well as the distribution of modified versions of these files (...
0
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0answers
14 views
If you parody a song and put it in a movie or in a successful YouTube/Netflix series, do you still need to contact copyright holders? [duplicate]
I am parodying several songs for the soundtrack of what will hopefully be a full feature movie, and would like to know if by doing so I have to contact the copyright holders to obtain a license.
--I ...
0
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0answers
31 views
Legality of short clips cut from famous movies to fit a new soundtrack
Bob has written a short piece of music and realized that it brilliantly fits certain sequences from a certain famous, copyrighted movie. He cuts essentially a music video from those sequences which ...
0
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2answers
47 views
Usage rights for a composition that later turned out to be plagiarism
If an artist makes a composition and later turns out to be a plagiarism from another, who bought the rights, or perhaps used it because it was released under creative commons, will it have ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Can musicians effectively sue politicans that use their songs without permission?
Just about every presidential election cycle I can recall has multiple stories of candidates using songs at their rallies which they have failed to secure permission for. Afterwards, there will a ...
1
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1answer
91 views
Is there a requirement to delete already illegally downloaded music?
If someone has illegally pirated music and has it downloaded is there a legal requirement for him to delete it?
0
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0answers
31 views
What could be done if a TV show used a person's music without that person's permission?
What would happen in the scenario where a show on a TV network played a tune during the show that another person owned? Let's say that the show was broadcast a few years after the music was composed, ...
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0answers
45 views
Copyright compliance for music used in a TV show
How do shows recorded and syndicated for replay on television (and comparable media) comply with the copyright of a music they play but do not own?
1
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1answer
57 views
Is my overseas music distributor in breach of their licensing agreement? How do I get money owed to me? [closed]
When I first started making music several years ago I used a service called Music Kickup; they're based in Helsinki, Finland and I am based in California, US. They take music I send them, put it on ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Do guitar tablature websites or websites that provide sheet music have to pay royalties to songs authors?
Do websites that provide guitar tablature or musical notes of popular songs have to pay royalties to song authors or record labels ?
I'm talking about websites like:
https://www.songsterr.com/
...
0
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0answers
22 views
Can I put a song title in my novel?
I know that for put a song i need to pay for it, but what if I put a song title in my novel like the title of a chapter (example: "21st Century Schizoid Man") or the name of a character (example: "...
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votes
1answer
161 views
Can I play the famous song “The Stars and Stripes Forever” in my mobile phone commercial game ? Is there any copyright issue?
The song " The Stars and Stripes Forever " is a very famous song in the US.
The song was composed by John Philip Sousa in 1896.
By a 1987 act of the U.S. Congress, it is the official National ...
-1
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1answer
34 views
Licensing an image and artwork
A musician asked me to create his latest album cover off one of my photographs.
He's not famous and will only publish his work on a few music websites, so he will use the artwork as a digital file ...
