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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5 |
Hi,
I was just wondering about all the songs included w/BIAB. Are they all machine made, or were they written by real people? Who wrote what? What about copyright. I want to re-arrange some of the songs, put new melodies to some basic tracks, put lyrics to some songs. But what about copyright. I haven't been able to find any information on who wrote what etc.
Cheers,
Bengt Stenstrom, Sweden
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
We have been told here in the past by pgmusic representatives that the demo songs included with BIAB are the copyrighted property of pgmusic.
They were done by human beings, using the same tools available inside BIAB as we have.
Remember, you cannot copyright a chord change, only a melody. Therefore you could kill the existing melody in any song and compose your own melody overtop of the chord changes found there. You can even use the Melodist to come up with a melody over those chords, too. Any song created by yourself using the BIAB automated features such as the Melodist belongs to YOU and you may copyright them if you so desire.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
Hey Mac
I've got a copyright question for you.
If you can only copyright a melody, does that mean that if I transcribe a bassline (say Sting) and publish the bassline on my website that I AM NOT VIOLATING COPYRIGHT (because I've not transcribed/published the melody)?
I know this is probably the wrong place for this question, but I've been trying to get a clear answer on this for some time now, and am still sadly in the dark a bit.
Cheers
Paul
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Hi Paul,
That would be a question for a music writing attorney, which I'm obviously not.
I do know that many people offer transcriptions of solos (check Hal Leonard publications for one) and they have copyrighted such as their own book...
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 99
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 99 |
Just a useful link for people working with covers - http://www.harryfox.com - you can get licenses to use (sell) your versions of songs from this organisation. 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
Bass line? Tread lightly dude.Huey Lewis--------------Ghostbusters................
Anyway ya oughta do at least a smidgen of creative work, no?
WSS
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
Quote:
Just a useful link for people working with covers - http://www.harryfox.com - you can get licenses to use (sell) your versions of songs from this organisation.
But don't let HFA con you.
F'rinstance there are a boatload of centuries old Irish traditional songs that various artists are claiming copyright on.
All they can really do is claim a particular arrangement and even then it's tough to enforce.
WSS
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
That is only one of the many reasons that I firmly recommend consulting a music writing attorney on the matter.
There is the "educational purposes" clause, which does allow for a certain number of bars to be used as example, but one should find out the current particulars on that subject before going ahead and publishing of any sort.
The US Copyright dot gov webpage has never had better info on it than today, the FAQ there can take you a long way without having to pay that attorney, may even get you all the way there. At any rate, I would only trust the source. No hearsay, no other place.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
Thanks for the advice Mac - will check it out further.
Steve, I produce a weekly ezine (which is free) and I include a lesson on a song each week and have a link to a PDF which has the bassline notated and tabbed out.
That's why I asked - I'm not trying to sell any copyrighted material, but even so I wanna be cautious!
Paul
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 928
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 928 |
Quote:
Remember, you cannot copyright a chord change
Or a title.
As Mac has mentioned several times before the only place (in the U.S.) a person should go for info, is the Copyright web site { http://www.copyright.gov/ } and/or an attorney.
Do not believe the stuff you read on the Internet. 
I attended a workshop the other day and people were saying "just mail the song to yourself." I just kept my mouth shut and smiled.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
Hey First Bassman
You're right.
I'm a member of the musicians union here in the UK, and one of the benefits is you get free legal advice.
I'll phone them and post the results here later today.
Cheers
Paul
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
Quote:
Hey First Bassman
You're right.
I'm a member of the musicians union here in the UK, and one of the benefits is you get free legal advice.
I'll phone them and post the results here later today.
Cheers
Paul
Good deal.
Most of us in the colonies gave it up years ago but our benefites were basicaslly SFA.
We used to get a banquet and open bar but......
WSS
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
Ha!
I managed to be a working bass player without joining the Union for years and years - but joining the union turned out to be the cheapest way to get public liability insurance for me and my band. Membership I think is £20 a month. The last time I paid for separate public liability insurance for the band it cost somewhere in the region of £2500 for the year. And every big hotel venue in London wants it now...and a lot of other places too. You can't work without it anymore.... so I bit the bullet and joined. Be nice to get something else out of it.
Paul
PS still haven't phoned them, too busy today, will post when I get feedback.
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