Hi - I hope someone can give me a definitive answer on this one. I've put a track together using BIAB Realtracks and uploaded it to Tunecore for distribution. This morning I received an email from them which said:
"We have determined that the above release contains audio which violates third party rights. Any time you remix a recording you did not previously record yourself, you MUST have a license from the owner of that original recording, as well as a license from the publisher showing rights to create a derivative work."
So where does that leave me when I use Band In A Box to write and record a song? Looking online I am led to believe that when you buy & use Band In A Box that the tracks are free to use.
I'd be grateful for any helpful comments as I negotiate with Tunecore.
"he arrangements made by Band-in-a-Box, RealBand, and PowerTracks are yours, and your songs may be used freely as long as they don't infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, such as with cover songs. https://www.pgmusic.com/salesfaq5.htm#23
The following add-ons are under PG Music Inc. copyright:
Band-in-a-Box demo songs Performance Series songs MIDI Fakebooks (except the Sound Tracks MIDI Fakebooks) PowerTracks MultiTracks
So in other words, you cannot use Band-in-a-Box to make a cover song and then claim it as your own. And you cannot use the list of items above as your own song."
I also submitted a request to hear a definitive PG Music ruling on a question someone else raised about "sound recording" rights as opposed to "copyright" in another thread.
The way the industry is going with so many new rules each year, I would love to have an up to date statement on both.
Assuming that you do in fact have an original song and not a cover....
Perhaps your tune has a melody line in it that is close to a copyrighted song. I was understanding, and perhaps that is not correct, that you can request an override and ask a person to review the issue.
I've heard that BiaB created tunes are being flagged in this manner. I personally have not had that happen.
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.
From a technical perspective what would a algorithm “look” for to flag a BiaB track in an original song?
Obviously not rhythm tracks and while BiaB solos can be regened and comped to get them supportive and compatible with your melody I find it hard to imagine they are flagged as “stealing” a melody from a copyrighted tune.
FWIW
Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
From a technical perspective what would a algorithm “look” for to flag a BiaB track in an original song?
Obviously not rhythm tracks and while BiaB solos can be regened and comped to get them supportive and compatible with your melody I find it hard to imagine they are flagged as “stealing” a melody from a copyrighted tune.
FWIW
Bud
Similar note sequences..... think of the My Sweet Lord fiasco over 3 notes. The algorithm spiders search all the new content posted and flag things it thinks are copies/violations. I think they are getting pretty good at that.... there was an app that was out years ago that would identify a song in a few notes and it was fairly accurate.
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.
So if an RT solo had three notes that duplicated three in a song within whatever database the programmers used it could get flagged? That oughta keep em busy!
Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
I would interpret your song as being in copyright violation if your song performance consists only of a solo track. Realtracks normally are not distributed in isolation but as part of an ensemble performance. Assuming the solo is included in an ensemble performance, no.
If the solo comes from a Soloist RealTrack then it is governed by the RealTrack rules but if it comes from somewhere else like PG Music's Master Class Series then there is another set of rules.
4 years ago I "borrowed" a Gong sound. Uploaded to my Soundcloud to store it briefly, and it was immediately flagged. It was nothing more that a few seconds of a single gong hit. I tried to delete it but I apparently uploaded it again, and again it was flagged. To this day I have never been able to delete these two flagged files.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Hi. I have an entire catalogue on Tunecore and I have never been questioned. Not all of my songs are BIAB but a few are. One thing you did not mention is "are you doing an original song or a cover"? I've done my own versions of covers with BIAB (Walk On By, Ooh Baby Baby) and distributed through Tunecore. However, I secured copyright permission through Tunecore before the music was distributed. So in essence even if you're doing a cover with your own version it's still considered a copyright violation unless you secured the rights. My original songs that I wrote with the assistance of BIAB have never been questioned. Also they are vocal driven songs. I'm also not sure if your song is instrumental or not. It appears that some way your melody was flagged. I'm sure you can put in a help ticket and ask them to clarify. They usually get back to you pretty quickly. The sites have seriously clamped down on copyrighted material. I've gotten copyright warnings on my YouTube Channel for my OWN songs. Because Tunecore is also my Publisher they actually have YouTube and Facebook rights (which I granted) to my own songs. Again if you believe this is in error submit a ticket and have them explain ... or go to DistroKid .. :-)
How does one determine and prove that the single sound is my gong and not your gong? Gongs are not unlimited in size, and there are only so many ways to strike them. Someone copyrighted a single gong hit?
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Spooky stuff. I have a song on Youtube that I used BIAB on and someone claimed copyright ownership on one little part of it so Youtube flagged it. (The video link is below. The song is "I Won't Be Home Tonight".) I appealed and I am still awaiting a final ruling. The company makes a living off of claiming other peoples work as its own, from what I read.
Last edited by jptjptjpt; 08/28/2109:38 AM. Reason: Added info about the song flagged.
How does one determine and prove that the single sound is my gong and not your gong? Gongs are not unlimited in size, and there are only so many ways to strike them. Someone copyrighted a single gong hit?
I mean this is like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack.... however.... your gong hit and my gong hit... played in two different gongs of the same size....and even on the same exact gong...... and hit with the same force and the same mallet.... might sound the same..... but... if you decide to go forensic on the file, down to the bit level.... that's where you WILL see either a difference or an exact match. If it's an exact match, it's been copied. I'm pretty sure, although I have not bothered to take the time to actually test this out, no two unique gong hits are going to be bit for bit exact no matter how similar they sound. there will always be a difference at that DNA level.
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.
The match is presumably made using a hash or fingerprint, which wouldn't necessarily discriminate between long and short recordings. And I suppose that even identical-sounding hits would fingerprint differently using mathematical analysis, so you really could tell this gong hit from that one.
I also submitted a request to hear a definitive PG Music ruling on a question someone else raised about "sound recording" rights as opposed to "copyright" in another thread.
You keep asking for that but it's unlikely to happen. You're asking attorneys to practice law in a Users forum.
The EULA is pretty clear on this and relevant passages have been quoted already.
Back to the OP. I'm pretty sure that there's something going on you aren't aware of and that's copyright trolls. There are companies and individuals slapping their names on everything and anything they can—everything from sample libraries to Apple Loops and beyond. The biggest offenders seem to be based in Brazil but it's not just there.
The goal is to monetize music they don't own. Here's how it works: When the bots pick up on something that they've "registered", you get a notice as do they. If YouTube, they'll try to place advertising based on these bogus claims — otherwise, they'll try to get you to pay a nominal license fee. No human interaction is involved. Because of some massive copyright suits in the EU, everyone is afraid.
The bots flagged your music and now you have to deal with it. The easiest way is to immediately explain that the tracks came from BIAB (or Apple Loops or…) and upload the appropriate ELUA. Do not explain or interpret it unless you are an attorney. The supposed claimants have a response period — YouTube and others give them 30 days; I don't know the situation here. After this period, you should be given the go ahead or reasons why someone thinks they have a valid claim.
I've lost count of the number of times this has happened to me, my friends and the churches for whom I currently work. I fight every one by uploading the correct licensing and/or copyright info and have yet to get a response disputing my claims. Lots of 30 day waiting periods, though.
Standard disclaimer: Though I have worked in music industry and IP legal departments, I am not an attorney and I am not practicing law. My views are my own and I do not represent anyone other than myself. Most especially, I do not speak for any present or former employers.
If you need legal advice, see a lawyer. User groups and online message boards are horrible places to seek legal advice.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
I found the simple lead sheet, single staff w/ chords, words, and melody easier to get through the copyright office than a recording. That's why recording studios have lawyers, isn't it?
Mike. its sad good church people (or anyone for that matter) have to endure this bot trolling. i guess the game is the automated bots throw up a million challenges, and hope a few people pay up. am i correct ? is that the game ? oddly enough as an ex cathedral choir boy , if i ever do some original worship songs its obvious i'll have to keep them off the net, in case some bot falsely targets me.
it must be a pain going through all this and of course the extra added work for you. am i correct in thinking if someone decides to fight back via eula or other means, the bot moves on ?
best to you. om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 08/31/2104:21 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
Mike. its sad good church people (or anyone for that matter) have to endure this bot trolling. i guess the game is the automated bots throw up a million challenges, and hope a few people pay up. am i correct ? is that the game ? oddly enough as an ex cathedral choir boy , if i ever do some original worship songs its obvious i'll have to keep them off the net, in case some bot falsely targets me.
it must be a pain going through all this and of course the extra added work for you. am i correct in thinking if someone decides to fight back via eula or other means, the bot moves on ?
best to you. om
Thanks,
Yes it is sad but also a fact of life. I've helped a number of churches with it now. It's not hard but these extra steps are a time consuming PIA.
Ignoring it can cause one to lose a YouTube channel or pay a troll. Both are unacceptable, IMO.
Anyway, I'm certain that using a gong hit triggered something somewhere. Next time, filter or resample it.
On the rare occasion that someone's rights really are being stepped on, you remove your content or pay the legitimate sync license. That's doing the right thing, of course.
Best
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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