Originally Posted By: trapper456
From my understanding is this. As long as you are not making any gains off of it it is not illegal. I did this for the learning process on how to properly use "Band in a Box" so I did this version as an educational learning tool. I.E. because I don't know how to read music, and or chord structure's. I am teaching myself through self learning and with the help of a guitar teacher here where I live so it is being used as a fair use, and educational purpose. There is no copyright infringement intended. In our copyrightable laws, it can indeed be used as an educational purpose under the fair use laws. And the reason that I put in my description "Let me know what you think" is because it is for criticism, and that is also in the fair use law. And this is not the exact song, because there are some changes in the song, because there are many different verses in this song. I took out some of them. And in our country this is defined as the fair use law: And I quote: Not being smart; I just know the laws about fair use. SO, I am within a perfect legal right to use this song or any other song; Just as long as I am using it as an educational purpose to have other people teach me how to play an instrument A.K.A. Guitar, and chord structure, and for criticism on my rendition of the song. "As I said let me know what you think."

In its most general sense, a fair use is any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.

Copyright law provides for the principle, commonly called "fair use" that the reproduction of copyright works for certain limited, educational purposes, does not constitute copyright infringement. ... Amount: The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.


Most of your "understanding" of US copyright law is wrong. You should learn more about copyright. Fair use applies to parodies, and educational purposes and neither of those apply to this. Educational uses permitted are clearly defined in the law. Anyone can copy the copyrighted material for personal use and education as well but... You can not publish it so that others can hear it. It doesn't matter that you are not making any money from it. It doesn't matter that you made changes and took out verses. It doesn't matter that you didn't intend to infringe. Fair use of copyrighted material is clearly defined and educational uses are mostly restricted to classroom instruction and use.

Check out the Harry Fox agency and YouTube copyright permissions so that you're at least in the grey area with YouTube. Why do you think sampling raised such a ruckus? They were using 3 second samples and getting hauled into court over those short uses. For copyrighted material there is no such thing as fair use in something released to the public.

A good book to read on this is This Business Of Music.

Essentially, even if you ignore all what I just said, PG music asks that to post your music here that you have all rights permission and ownership of the material. A license from Harry Fox agency gives you the rights needed to comply with PG music rules.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 03/22/20 02:10 PM.
You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.