Music and Copyrights - Confused

[LFiatoa]

I'm a little confused on this... If the person (client/customer) you are creating the show for has the original CD or sound file that they bought legally, and the use of the show is for friends and family to view only - Under the Copyright Fair Use Act - can you (me and others) create the show using their music, and avoid copyright infringements? We (the creators of the show) are not causing the music owener to lose money - the person (client/customer) had already paid for the music... Wouldn't this be the same as playing the couples song at the wedding?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Laura

[hootowls]

There has been some great discussions of this on the board. Do a search.

These are my favorites:

http://www.proshowenthusiasts.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=8547&p=69293&hilit=copyright#p69293

http://www.proshowenthusiasts.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8401&p=68158&hilit=copyright#p68158


Also look at these on the web:

http://www.kevinsbrady.com/copyright.html

http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

I still am not sure... After reading all this, what do you think?

Hootowls

[LFiatoa]

I know.. I know... I have read and re-read different sites that all have conflicting information on it. Some seem to agree that you the comsumer can make a copy for yourself and make a "mix" of music CDs - others say "No you can't". However, I have not seen one that said you can sync the music to photos or other work... My thinking was, from looking at other business doing the same thing we are doing, (creating photo slideshows) most of them say the person has to own the original cd, they will upload the song (making the copy for them I suppose) and sync it to music. Some have a disclaimer... But according to this Kevin Brady - that wont hold up in court... so it seems to me it would be illegal to do. It seems to me, and maybe they are out there, that some of these commercial music companies would create a cd giving the rights to produce slideshows with at a reasonable price... Just like buying Photodisc - graphics and photos to use.
If any one knows of Music CDs created for this purpose please let me know.
Laura

[Jim Adams Profile Private message]

Laura,

The only legal way for you to use music in this fashion is to purchase "Royalty Free Music".
Do a Google search of that term and you will find countless companies created just for that purpose.
You will not find anything you are familiar with and, therefore, must spend countless hours listening to music.

http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/pr ... asp?pvid=8 (4 CD's - $100)

http://www.music2hues.com/
http://www.opuzz.com/
http://www.studio1downloads.com/
http://www.studiocutz.com/
http://www.musicbakery.com/
http://www.gregmaroney.com/royalty_free.htm
http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/
http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free ... rch=Search
http://www.ibaudio.com/?Page=Home

The list goes on and on and so do the hours of listening and searching for a decent price.

Jim

[DickK Profile Private messageWebsite]

Caution: Royalty Free means just that, you don't pay per-use fees. It does not necessarily mean it won't cost to acquire it and it doesn't necessarily mean you have the right to use the music in any particular way. Carefully read the usage requirements and limitations on a site-by-site basis. As as you've discovered these will vary. Some fully license for non-commercial use only, some for everything, some say 'personal use only' and there are other variations in the language.

Only if the music is unrestricted in usage and royalty free are you completely past the issues.

Dick

Note: Because there are duplicate threads on this topic, anyone reading this should also review that one which has more information in it.