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#12842 02/02/09 05:02 AM
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itwiz25 Offline OP
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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

itwiz25 #12843 02/02/09 06:33 AM
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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

Mac #12844 02/02/09 12:22 PM
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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


Paul Wolfe
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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

Mac #12846 02/02/09 02:43 PM
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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.


Mel Maguire #12847 02/02/09 04:25 PM
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Bass line? Tread lightly dude.Huey Lewis--------------Ghostbusters................

Anyway ya oughta do at least a smidgen of creative work, no?


WSS

Mel Maguire #12848 02/02/09 04:29 PM
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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

Westside Steve #12849 02/02/09 07:05 PM
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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

Mac #12850 02/04/09 08:31 AM
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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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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.

FirstBassman #12852 02/05/09 01:45 AM
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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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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

Westside Steve #12854 02/05/09 03:25 PM
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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.


Paul Wolfe
how to play bass...learning songs, not scales!
http://www.how-to-play-bass.com
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