Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?

Subject: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: GUEST,Wordless Woman
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 04:22 PM

Would it be bad form – or even illegal – for me to quote a few lines from a copyrighted song in a newspaper article? I would credit the songwriter, song, and CD. I haven't the songwriter's (Ashley Hutchings) permission nor do I have a web address with which to contact him.

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: MMario
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 04:22 PM

certainly seems like "fair use" to me

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 04:42 PM

The phrase "Not to be reproduced, in whole or in part" goes through my head...

But I really wouldn't worry about it...

,-)

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 04:51 PM

as long as credit is given and nothing is changed, though it's always at least a courtesy, if not a requirement, to ask permission, not always possible, though

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:09 PM

Here a site with some contact details

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: Burke
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:12 PM

Depends on the purpose of inclusion. The definition of Fair Use is in the US Code. Here's the text Here's the Government's free advice

I'd make sure your use fits this test: for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.

If you are not reporting or commenting on the text you're quoting, you may need to get clearance. The newspaper you are writing for may insist on it.

There are clearance agencies that will help you out. For a UK author try ALCS
to start with. For other clearance agencies try here.

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: Burke
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:14 PM

If you're in the UK you'll need to check the law there for what is considered 'fair use"

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:25 PM

I always find posts at mudcat on this, and related issues, slightly odd.

The forum and the DT flagrantly abuse copyright rights on a daily basis.

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: nickp
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 05:14 AM

Do get in touch with Ashley via the quoted site or I think he has one called www.ashleyhutchings.co.uk

Certainly he's always amenable to a bit of extra publicity so in this instance I'm almost sure he'd be OK about it!

Nick

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 10:02 AM

Contact the group - they will probably give you a "kick-back" (or at least a CD) for plugging the group and giving them public exposuer.

What type of a "journalist" are you, if you don't the know the rudements of your trade?

Reading about the UK restrictions on EVERYTHING and the shambled posts on fees makes me thankfull North America broke from the archane ties that bind.

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: GUEST,Wordless Woman
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 10:03 AM

Kind thanks all for your information. McGoH I had tried the Albion Band site yesterday but the Ashley link is incomplete. Nickp I tried various combinations of ashleyhutchings with no luck. Burke I'm reeling after reading the US code. My article will appear in a local free newspaper with a distribution of several thousand (no danger of a Pulitzer Prize here) and I thought I'd lead off with a few lines from a song on Sway with Me, one of my favorite CDs. Surely you all have it in your collections.

I'll have to have a think about this. Thanks again. Mudcatters are a font of information.

Subject: RE: Help: Quoting a copyrighted song - OK to do?
From: nickp
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 11:10 AM

Hmm you're right, I cant find it either, it's gone!

Send an email to Steve

sjsheldon    at   compuserve . com

needless to say missing out the spaces and changing at for @ and ask him to forward your request to Ashley or to act as intermediary. Blame me for the email if he queries it although you could find it on that web site above if you knew who to go for.

Hang on in there, Nick