copyright issue?

khersee wrote on 2/7/2010, 7:22 AM

If I am going to create a DVD for personal (or family/friends) use and use copywritten songs, is this an issue? It would seem that I am not trying to sell the song per se, so I would believe not. But, I can't seem to find that info specifically. A person gives me photos, I add songs, create a DVD. Any input is welcome, thanks! Kirk

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 2/7/2010, 7:58 AM

This gets asked a lot. Despite any urban legend you may have heard, copyright protection exists whether or not you are "trying to sell the song per se."

" . . . a series of exclusive rights granted to the author [which] include the right to prohibit others from reproducing (copying), adapting (making derivative works), distributing, publicly performing, or publicly displaying the work.."

Granted, a lot of people do just what you are proposing. But the issue is as much about what other people do with the material after it is in their hands. You have no control over that, and any questions will come back to you if something you put together gets uploaded to Facebook, for example.

khersee wrote on 2/7/2010, 8:11 AM

thanks musicvid. figures. well, onward through the fog I guess. gonna have to start producing my own music too so that I can do this "legally".

musicvid10 wrote on 2/7/2010, 8:15 AM

Or, you could just ask the publisher if you can use their song. The very worst thing they could do is say "no," so you have nothing to lose by trying.

khersee wrote on 2/7/2010, 8:23 AM

Right. True. I will research this process. Thanks again!

Tim L wrote on 2/7/2010, 9:07 AM

Don't forget that there are lots and lots of "royalty free" buy-out music collections available -- music that is specifically sold for people to use legally with their videos.

Be sure to look up the specific details for each collection, but in general you buy the CD for anywhere from $15 to $100, and then you can use it forever with any of your videos for no additional costs. Some collections might have specific rules that you can only produce 5000 DVD's without additional licensing fees, or that you can't use it for a national, network broadcast without additional fees (but regional and local are ok), but for most people it's a buy-it-once-use-it-forever process.

Search eBay or the web for "buyout music" or "royalty free music".

Also search specifically for "SmartSound" music, "Digital Juice", "Stock20", etc. I think there is a thread here on the forum somewhere that discusses a lot of available collections.

Tim L

khersee wrote on 2/7/2010, 9:37 AM

Tim . . . thanks for the tip. I am a bit more informed than I was a few hours ago.

amendegw wrote on 2/7/2010, 11:45 AM

"You have no control over that, and any questions will come back to you if something you put together gets uploaded to Facebook, for example."Sometimes this happens and the copyright holder smiles all the way to the bank. See: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-now-pronounce-you-monetized-youtube.html

...Jerry

richard-amirault wrote on 2/7/2010, 12:45 PM

Search eBay or the web for "buyout music" or "royalty free music".

Or "podsafe music" (ie. music for use in podcasts)

Eugenia wrote on 2/7/2010, 4:33 PM

Just use Creative Commons music: http://www.osnews.com/story/20575/Guide_to_Creative_Commons_Media_for_Videographers