Help: Copyright Restrictions..What are they?

Subject: Copyright Restrictions..What are they?
From: GaryD
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 12:17 AM

Hello Again!... It is good to be back...Wow, the new format changes are neat..I'll have to play around here awhile next time...! However, right now I need to find out some information about the use of Mudcat material. I know you went through a lot to get permission to post the great DT & this forum without getting hung by copyright problems. I use the songs just for singing with my friends, non professionally, so I don't there is any problem there.

However, I have a friend who belongs to a non profit organization who wants to use the songs to sing at family life type convention.

Can we do so, and if we can, can we print the words to be used as handouts so the audience can sing along?

What if the organization was non profit?, or for profit? or if it is non profit, they still collect money for the convention fees, but we are not selling music, or the songs?

Do we have to give the author/artist/or source credit? What about permission? Do we have to contact author/artist/source, or agencies such as ASCAP to use the material in such manner?

Any clarification of these issues would be great.. Take care & Keep on the Sunnyside!... Gary

Subject: RE: Help: Copyright Restrictions..What are they?
From: Chet W.
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 09:06 AM

Gary, This subject has come up many times in this forum. Just put "copyright" in the thread search filter and it will give you several threads to look at. About your specific questions, I can give you some guidance (get it verified!). If you own or are renting/borrowing a hall or whatever space to put on a show and you take in money in any fashion, then you owe royalties, usually to ASCAP or BMI, who then occasionally share part of it with the songwriters. Don't print lyric sheets for songs that are copyrighted. If they are traditional or the copyright is out of date then you owe nothing. If you are just the performer you owe nothing; The owner or temporary holder of the venue has that responsibility. If you ever make recorded versions of the music for sale, then you owe royalties, but not if they are given away. There is an agency you can contact, the Harry Fox Agency, to find out who wrote or holds copyright on just about any song, and you might try contacting the composers directly to ask for permission to use. On one or more of the previous threads, there are links to websites that give a lot of information on copyright. These laws are very complex, often don't make a lot of sense, and you can't presume to be im compliance by using common sense. And boy can they come down on you if you are in violation, so be safe.

Good luck, Chet

Subject: RE: Help: Copyright Restrictions..What are they?
From: GaryD
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 11:39 PM

Thanks, Chet..I'll pass on that info..and look at those other sites..not now, though, I'm burned out..G'night.. Gary

Subject: RE: Help: Copyright Restrictions..What are they?
From: _gargoyle
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 01:11 AM

Just Sing

Have Fun!!!!

You ain't commercial...they won't bother you.

And if....just perchance lightening strikes the tip of your fiddle bow ......and the "copywrite police" do come a knockin' at your door....

just appoligize and say you are sorry and you won't do it no more.

REST EASY
THEY DON"T CARE....ABOUT YOU...
YOU HAVE NOTHING THEY WANT>>>>>>(AKA the green stuff)