Copyright needed for personal recording?

Subject: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 06 - 08:35 PM

Hi- My question is if I'm recording in a studio (not a home studio)to make a CD for myself, do I need copyright permission for songs that I do not write? For instance, if I was recording a non-commercial version of "Born in the USA" would I need permission from Springsteen's publisher if I am not going to make any money off of it? I plan on pressing a number of copies. Thanks for your time.

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:24 PM

What country are you in?

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:26 PM

In Australia, sonwriting royalties paid on PRESSINGS, not sales.

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:35 PM

Hi- I'm the guest with the question. I'm in the USA.

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:46 PM

See innumerable past discussions where the same question has been asked, and answered. There is a link to the onsite search engine at the top of every page.

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:49 PM

You do not need permission to re-record a song that has been recorded and released before. You do, however, have to purchase a "mechanical license". Check the Harry Fox Agency's website for info.

Last time I checked, it was about $0.08 per CD made, per song; that's if you press 1,000 copies or less (or was it 500? Not sure). You press more than that, the rules change.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: M.Ted
Date: 26 May 06 - 11:16 PM

It depends on what you mean by "pressing copies"--in the US, if you create copies of your recordings in any form that can be sold , you are obliged to pay fees on them. You can generally make test copies that you require during the recording process, masters, and archive copies--in addition, copies that are made for broadcast are generally exempt because the broadcaster pays the lisense fee for use.

It is wise to resolve all the legal, contractual, and use issues related to recording before going ahead because if you have a problem after the fact, it can be messy and expensive to sort out.

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: My guru always said
Date: 27 May 06 - 07:43 AM

Very helpful Malcolm, thanks!

Meantime, is the answer much different for the UK? I've a project in hand for a CD which will only ever be given away as a souvenir.

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 06 - 08:53 AM

work on the assumption that if you merely fart..

..a greedy bastard parasite copyright lawyer will be eagerly
leeching all over your backside
trying to prove the noise you emitted
contained a recognisable phrase from a tune
for which he gets a percentage of 'intellectual rights'$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: Brían
Date: 27 May 06 - 09:45 AM

whatever.

Bran

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 27 May 06 - 12:38 PM

In the USA, as I understand it, whether you sell anything or not is irrelevant. (At least in theory. See next paragraph.) If you make a recording and distribute it, you owe the copyright fee.   Assuming, of course, that the song involved is within copyrightable dates (generally speaking, originally published earlier than 1923.)

There are those who figure, "My pressing and distribution is so small, they're never going to hear of me, much less come after me." This may be true or not, but I'm not telling you to do it. That's for you and your own conscience.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Copyright needed for personal recording?
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 28 May 06 - 07:42 AM

For the UK, all the information you need is on the MCPS website:

http://www.mcps.co.uk/