Oops, Mac, I just now read your reply, but I've already typed the verbage below and am sending it out just to hear any further angles on this stuff:

Okay, let me use the scenarios below to attempt to get my thoughts clear about what has been said here:

If I download a free MIDI of Bob Will's tune Faded Love from a Web Site, which of the following are True (T) and which are false (F):

1. The Web Site has violated the law if the tune includes the melody (T or F)...it's T, right?
a) Regardless of the answer to the above, there are still many sites on the Web that permit many many MIDI files to be downloaded free that include the melody (T or F)....it's T, right?
b) If I download thousands of MIDI files from a site whereby each tune excludes the melody, everything is fine and no one is in violation of the law (T or F)....It's T, right?
c) If I enhance one of the tunes gotten via the b) part approach, am I okay in playing those as backup rhythm at a gig (T or F)...it's T, right?

2. If no melody is included in the downloaded tune, then:

a) I can modify the tune (e.g., using RealTracks and RealDrums) in any way I wish and play it at gigs (or anywhere) with everything being legal (T or F)...it's T here, right?
b) If I put a melody into this thing, is it now illegal to play at a gig (or anywhere)....even if it was myself that generated the melody?
c) I cannot accept any tune (written by someone else) from anyone if it has a melody included'''even if it was done originally and maybe used RT and RD to do so?
d) I cannot make a tune and send free to anyone (even if it's my wife) if it's a tune whose melody I generated and included in the tune (T or F)...it's F here, right?

I'm stopping with the scenarios since I'm getting depressed with thinking about all this.....I might as well continue spending hours and hours modifying existing tunes with the use of RealTracks and RealDrums and just play them around my house for practice....that is, if I really want to be safe from the legal issues.

Last question....if I replace the word "MIDI" with "MP3" in the above discussion, there's no reason the answers would be any different, right?

Where specifically does one find the "law" in black and white that clearly provide the answers to all this stuff....anyone know it's web address (because there does seem to be quite a bit of disagreement about such)? Oops, I asked so many questions that most of you will probably choose to ignore this....however, further clarity from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

cchallum