Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker
Originally Posted By: Notes Norton
The best bet is advice from a legal professional versed in copyright law. It's no guarantee that you won't get sued, but if you do, it will show you thought you were doing the right thing and that should limit your liability.

Just my $0.02

Insights and incites by Notes



Intent doesn't matter except in Supreme Court arguments.

Try telling the traffic cop that you really didn't intend to be going 80mph in a 55mph speed zone and see where that gets you.

The BEST bet for this situation is to PURCHASE the license to do what he wants to do. And if he can't afford to do that, he doesn't need to do it.

I'll wager that the proper license is much much cheaper than a lawyers consultation fee when he would need to respond to a lawsuit. Copyright lawsuits are very expensive propositions.


In court cases, if you have consulted a lawyer, and simply got bad advice from the lawyer, often you will simply get a cease and desist order with no damages. Judges are human and recognize that you tried to do the right thing.

It's not the same as a traffic ticket. You don't need a lawyer to interpret a speed limit sign.

On the other hand, the license might be cheaper. But it may not.

At one time, I wanted to sell MIDI sequences. I contacted the Harry Fox Agency. They were the backing tracks I use for my duo, without melody, but with all the song specific parts (bass line, drums, comp parts, and even background vocals done on synth patches). The price was up to $2.50 per song with if I remember correctly, a 500 song minimum payment up front. I decided not to sell backing track sequences. But that was probably close to 20 years ago, when MIDI was still new. Things might be better now. It's worth it to check.

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
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