gpvideodesigns wrote:Hi
Thanks for your comments. The reason I used that song on the Hawaii video is just because I love the song, so it was a personal choice. Same thing with the Disney video. I wanted it to be what I liked and I thought it worked well with the photos. I guess no matter what song you use in these, you run the copyright risk. I fugured if utube allowed me to use it and didnt kick it out, it would be ok.
I don't mean to belabor the point, but the bottom line with using these songs is that you are in violation of copyright whether youtube allows it or not. I don't know how vigorously Israel K.'s estate pursues such things, but you can be sure that Disney if they become aware of it will drop the hammer on you. Just because you can doesn't mean it is prudent to do so, or ethically acceptable.
When you buy a CD or pay for a download from the net all you are buying is the right to listen to that music, you don't otherwise own it in any way shape or form. It is not likely that if you use the music for a slide show or video that your family will see, that you will get in trouble. If one of your family really likes the show and uploads it to youtube or anything else on the internet then you are in violation of copyright.
It really comes down to a pretty simple test- Say you are driving down a country road and you spot a fruit and vegetable stand. When you stop you see all the fruits and vegetables with prices marked on everything and a sign pointing to a coffee can that says get what you want and pay here. Would you gather up a sack full and drive off without paying? After all no one is watching. If you say absolutely not, that would be stealing whether any one watches or not. Different scenario, you are in a busy department store looking for batteries for your mp3 player. You noticed on the way in that they had no security devices and no one is looking your way. Would you slip the batteries in your bag and head on out, after all this is a big company they don't need the money. If again you answered absolutely not then you have answered the copyright question. If stealing is wrong with tangible property it is wrong with intellectual property.
Essentially when you buy a book, song, movie or software you are not buying what is written, you are buying a license for certain defined uses of the intellectual property. The ownership of the intellectual property is not transferred to you.
There is a good deal of free music out there that is royalty free, and even more that you can purchase that is royalty free.
This is not meant to be picking you or anyone else, but I feel it is too important to not say anything.
Robert