It makes me sick when I hear stuff like this. - VGF

**Crazyswordsman** · 03-25-2008, 06:17 PM

boycott-riaa.com - Article: Van Morrison hates covers!

It pisses me off when I hear that covering a song infringes on someone's copyright just because someone says it does without any proof. If I play a copyrighted song without using clips from other people, that's not copyright infringement at all. That's my expression of an idea, and copyright doesn't cover ideas themselves. -CSM

***Ace Mercury*** · 03-25-2008, 08:53 PM

Copyright is one of those fuzzy things to me. What does copyright supposed to cover anyways?

**Crazyswordsman** · 03-26-2008, 12:22 AM

Expression of your own ideas. But the recording companies butchered it.

There's also this double standard: when we plagerize them, it's copyright infringement. When they plagerize us, it's okay because we have no money.

I don't want to get into this, but we need to sit down with big content and have a nice, civilized discussion with them, to make a long story short. -CSM

***CaptHayfever*** · 03-26-2008, 12:54 AM

You do actually need permission to record and release a copyrighted composition for money. This, however, was not for money, and as Al Yankovic can tell you firsthand, they shouldn't be able to do jack squat to stop that.

And remember, "You're pitiful. You're pitiful. You're pitiful, it's true."

**Kargath** · 03-26-2008, 02:51 AM

Of course a cover version infringes. You're copying the words and melody directly.

GRENTLEMEN · 03-26-2008, 05:57 AM

It's illegal to distribute a cover song without the owner's consent. Sometimes that owner is a label or a family member, sometimes it's the original artist. Regardless, you have to have their approval. It's not illegal to do a live cover. But, if you record that and distribute it, it falls under the classification of a "reproduction" of the original recording. Unauthorized reproduction is something the federal government specifically defines as copyright infringement.

As a songwriter, I would be pretty pissed if people used my works to promote their own fame without my permission. Artistic expression, sure, but only with respect to the artist who has granted you this opportunity by writing the original.

03-25-2008, 06:17 PM	#1
Crazyswordsman RPG Mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 7,979 Thanks: 537 Thanked 373 Times in 256 Posts Points: 126,477.27 Bank: 26,171.80 Total Points: 152,649.07 Donate	It makes me sick when I hear stuff like this. boycott-riaa.com - Article: Van Morrison hates covers! It pisses me off when I hear that covering a song infringes on someone's copyright just because someone says it does without any proof. If I play a copyrighted song without using clips from other people, that's not copyright infringement at all. That's my expression of an idea, and copyright doesn't cover ideas themselves. -CSM

03-26-2008, 02:51 AM	#5
Kargath Vibrates On Command Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: kargath64.deviantart.com Gender: Posts: 4,386 Thanks: 345 Thanked 100 Times in 84 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 8,907.18 Bank: 180,138.67 Total Points: 189,045.85 Donate	Of course a cover version infringes. You're copying the words and melody directly. __________________ Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users? -Clifford Stoll

03-25-2008, 08:53 PM	#2
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 18,945 Thanks: 360 Thanked 1,496 Times in 783 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 98,048.56 Bank: 12,202,050.71 Total Points: 12,300,099.27 Donate	Copyright is one of those fuzzy things to me. What does copyright supposed to cover anyways?

03-26-2008, 12:22 AM	#3
Crazyswordsman RPG Mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 7,979 Thanks: 537 Thanked 373 Times in 256 Posts Points: 126,477.27 Bank: 26,171.80 Total Points: 152,649.07 Donate	Expression of your own ideas. But the recording companies butchered it. There's also this double standard: when we plagerize them, it's copyright infringement. When they plagerize us, it's okay because we have no money. I don't want to get into this, but we need to sit down with big content and have a nice, civilized discussion with them, to make a long story short. -CSM

03-26-2008, 12:54 AM	#4
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,283 Thanks: 161 Thanked 734 Times in 475 Posts Points: 105,565.96 Bank: 923.79 Total Points: 106,489.75 Donate	You do actually need permission to record and release a copyrighted composition for money. This, however, was not for money, and as Al Yankovic can tell you firsthand, they shouldn't be able to do jack squat to stop that. And remember, "You're pitiful. You're pitiful. You're pitiful, it's true."

03-26-2008, 05:57 AM	#6
GRENTLEMEN Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 15,886 Thanks: 456 Thanked 1,151 Times in 628 Posts Points: 6,541.33 Bank: 1,830,360.28 Total Points: 1,836,901.61 Donate	It's illegal to distribute a cover song without the owner's consent. Sometimes that owner is a label or a family member, sometimes it's the original artist. Regardless, you have to have their approval. It's not illegal to do a live cover. But, if you record that and distribute it, it falls under the classification of a "reproduction" of the original recording. Unauthorized reproduction is something the federal government specifically defines as copyright infringement. As a songwriter, I would be pretty pissed if people used my works to promote their own fame without my permission. Artistic expression, sure, but only with respect to the artist who has granted you this opportunity by writing the original.