Using a song

[Mac Yeti]

There's a song the I really want to use for a campaign we're doing. It's not popular - it's from a Reader's Digest album!!

So my question is - what could happen if we use it?

 

[An Oasis]

Depends upon the copyright that is in place. There are legal ways to avoid the copyright issue... also you can contact the originator and ask for permission.

PRS would be a good starting point, where you could check details.
http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx


Basics

"...The copyright in films also lasts for 70 years after the death of the last to survive of the principal director, author of the screenplay and dialogue and the composer of the music created specifically for the film. Copyright protection in sound recordings and broadcasts exists for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it was made or released. Copyright in the typographical arrangement of published editions exists for 25 years from first publication...." from

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Copyright/Copyright_Law_Introduction.pdf

 

[Mac Yeti]

Thanks Richard!

 

[An Oasis]

No problem Jill, oh happy days gone by. Got my one remaining guitar out the other day shoved some new strings on and then put it back, couldn't be arsed!

Are you sorted?

 

[Mac Yeti]

Yes thanks. Unless you want to get the guitar back out and record me some funky jazzy elevator music?

 

[Dawg]

"it's from a Reader's Digest album!!

So my question is - what could happen if we use it?"

You will lose all credibility and respect, and end up designing the small ads in the very personal section for OAPS, of the Wanganui Gazette monthly, ( a 'lively' New Zealand periodical), and not even cats will talk to you.

Reader's Digest. Sad shaking of head, muttering..woe, woe...

 

[An Oasis]

Yes thanks. Unless you want to get the guitar back out and record me some funky jazzy elevator music?

Ohh er I think that you would be taking a horrible chance on that. I haven't touched a guitar in 14 years, have hands that have bits missing and only barely function, could probably do a slow (but bad) blues but that would be your lot.

Why not give this totally top bloke a call. Tell him I said it was OK, oh and tell him he is just so brill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn3zIBBmXiU

 

[Mac Yeti]

You guys wait till you hear it - it's awesome!!

 

[An Oasis]

LOL playawaywayplayaway

Wanganui Gazette is good M ya just got to read between the lines. Every 4th letter of every third word there's gold in them thar hills.

 

[Tin]

So my question is - what could happen if we use it?

Knowing you guys, you'll knock Leona Lewis off the Number 1 spot.

Ray

 

Knowing you guys, you'll knock Leona Lewis off the Number 1 spot.

Ray

I wish these boxers would not try to sing

No seriously if you want to use a piece of music from a Readers Digest Album,have you looked for hairs on the palms of your hands recently.

Earl

 

[RayB]

We could record it as a UKBF special. Not sure if it would circumvent the copyright issues - would be fun though

(RayB limbers up the dodgy vocal chords)

 

[awebapart.com]

It seems quite odd that the current top two topics in the legal section of this forum are by 2 agencies, one is a web agency complaining that some other website has used a gif from their website without their permission, and the other is from a PR agency asking what would happen if they used somebody else's song as part of their campaign!

The answers are all down to the same issues of copyright, intellectual property, licensing and permission.

With music, especially if it is lift/elevator type music (incidental, background music), you will probably find it easier making it yourself (using some music generation software) or using some royalty free music supplier. For instance when my company was in the games business we used royalty free music supplier www.madhat.co.uk for some demo music to accompany our game we demo'd at an exhibition, and we also composed our own tunes for some of our games.

The funny thing is, if you want popular music as part of your professional custom-designed website, you have little chance of getting it. But if you want popular music as part of your myspace page, you can do this legally by using the music of another myspace member (members which include the popular artists who have legally uploaded their music like www.myspace.com/katiemelua and even, wait for it, www.myspace.com/patmethenygroup )

 

[LisaHoughton]

We could record it as a UKBF special. Not sure if it would circumvent the copyright issues - would be fun though

(RayB limbers up the dodgy vocal chords)

Count me in!!

 

[RayB]

Count me in!!

Any advance on a fine duet fellow members :|

 

[VeryMark]

The really strange thing is I think I may have been through Wanganui somewhere in my travels ......

 

Any advance on a fine duet fellow members :|

I can pluck a mean banjo

Earl

 

[RayB]

I can pluck a mean banjo

Earl

I had you down as more of a skiffle man - now where is that washboard and tin whistle?

 

[billhilton]

Ray, I've got the necessary recording gear and a big old piano. Anytime you're up here, drop in and I'll record you as much as you like, free. I'll be posting it here afterwards, naturally.