Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
If I register, i.e., copyright my version of a PD song I consider it original. As much as somebody who uses exactly the same complex chord progression of a song and calls it his or her own . Yep, I know progressions can’t be copyrighted. FWIW, With our PD songs we invariably change the chords and the lyric. I think PG Music has amply demonstrated liency regarding the use of PD material.

OK that’s my story and I’m sticking with it! smile smile

It's a cover! laugh


OK, we ain't talking about a legal contract here. If we were, heads would have rolled by now. This discussion is probably best understood as a "spirit of the law vs letter of the law" interpretation.

When I hear the phrase "cover song" I immediately think of the obvious and most likely case of people using BIAB to record songs that are still under copyright. Obviously, PGMusic doesn't want that. I doubt that anybody at PGMusic sat around a table with squinty eyes saying "but what exactly does 'cover song' mean anyway? Would it include someone's personal interpretation of public domain music? "

If that discussion had taken place, people would have gotten warnings by now.

PGMusic is concerned about controlling the content only to the extent that they don't get letters from attorneys.

The fact that nobody has been so much as WARNED (much less removed from the forum) is enough evidence to rule out the "letter of the law" interpretation.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0