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how would you react to this?

#21
Everyone seems a little overboard with this thing. The likelihood of either of these guys making any kind of money off of these songs is nil. I know you're going to say it isn't about the money, but let's lighten up a bit. The guy likes his songs, has shown them to some other friends, and feels like he can't quite cop the nice lines. I say roll with it. Screw the copyright thing, what does that do anyway? Is any of that going to matter when these guys are 70? Not likely. Have fun, share some great music, meet people who like the same things you do, and let the music flow.
 
#22
Rick Auricchio said:
Your songs are your property even if you don't file any paperwork. Just keep evidence of when you wrote them.

And remember, all of that is of no use unless you're prepared to back it up with attorneys in court. If you won't sue, copyright is useless. Copyright registration provides courtroom-friendly evidence---they aren't going to send a masked avenger to help you fight an infringer.
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keeping evidence of when you wrote it doesn't do any good. Legally, you cannot file a copyright infringement suit on a work that you have not copyrighted. It's a law written to where when you create a work of art you own the intillectual property, but you can't file suit on someone for stealing it unless you have copyrighted it.

Also, only lyrics and melodies are protected by copyright law. chord progressions and riffs generally aren't covered, unless the riff is the signature part of the song. Copyright your songs ASAP is my advice.
 
#23
GrooveWarrior said:
Everyone seems a little overboard with this thing. The likelihood of either of these guys making any kind of money off of these songs is nil. I know you're going to say it isn't about the money, but let's lighten up a bit. The guy likes his songs, has shown them to some other friends, and feels like he can't quite cop the nice lines. I say roll with it. Screw the copyright thing, what does that do anyway? Is any of that going to matter when these guys are 70? Not likely. Have fun, share some great music, meet people who like the same things you do, and let the music flow.
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good point. i guess i understood that he was teaching the songs to his other band to perform....my bad!
 
#24
MrTAteMyBalls said:
good point. i guess i understood that he was teaching the songs to his other band to perform....my bad!
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I really don't know. Maybe the guy was trying to take his songs . . . even so, does that matter? Who among us hasn't used a riff or an idea from someone else to write a new song. Are we really worried that this other band MIGHT play a song this guy wrote to a crowd of 18 disinterested drunks one night. I'd take it as a compliment and then point out how poorly they executed the idea just for posterity.
 
#25
MrTAteMyBalls said:
keeping evidence of when you wrote it doesn't do any good. Legally, you cannot file a copyright infringement suit on a work that you have not copyrighted. It's a law written to where when you create a work of art you own the intillectual property, but you can't file suit on someone for stealing it unless you have copyrighted it.

Also, only lyrics and melodies are protected by copyright law. chord progressions and riffs generally aren't covered, unless the riff is the signature part of the song. Copyright your songs ASAP is my advice.
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You've got it all wrong. You can't file a copyright, period. You can't apply for it. As soon as you create a piece of art, you have the copyrights! And you WILL retain those copyrights, unless you SELL them, until you are dead for 70 years. The problem is PROVING that you have them, and enforcing their protection. Naturally you can't "file suit on someone ... unless you have copyrighted it." Because you can't sue someone unless you can prove that you are the true creator of the art.

Anyway, IMO, someone who wants to steal your music and make money off of it without right isn't going to ask you to teach it to them. It sounds like his intentions are harmless. I would be happy to show him, AFTER laying out my expectations of how he will use the knowledge (i.e. anytime he performs it live, he gives ME full credit, and he does NOT make a recording of it of any kind.)
 
#26
GrooveWarrior said:
Everyone seems a little overboard with this thing. The likelihood of either of these guys making any kind of money off of these songs is nil. I know you're going to say it isn't about the money, but let's lighten up a bit. The guy likes his songs, has shown them to some other friends, and feels like he can't quite cop the nice lines. I say roll with it. Screw the copyright thing, what does that do anyway? Is any of that going to matter when these guys are 70? Not likely. Have fun, share some great music, meet people who like the same things you do, and let the music flow.
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ya just never know tho'....there are tons of songs on radios every day world wide that the writers never received a dime in royalties for../..
 
#31
A thief by any other name, my friend.
Consider telling that SILLY GOOSE to GO JUMP IN A LAKE1
Next he will be after your Bass, your Rig, your Woman, and your SOUL!
Divest yourself of this Music Stealing Hack.....A.S.A.P.!
 
#33
GrooveWarrior said:
... and the world hasn't ended.
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well you could say that it did for those who created all that great music then lived in poverty while others got rich on their backs.....there is a very enlightening thing by joan baez in the isle of wight movie that sums it up perfectly....while it would be nice to just give it away,people gotta eat,live,buy gear ,braces for the kids etc.....
 
#34
M0ses said:
Really? That's just fine and dandy by you? Who cares? I'm sure that's the way you'd feel if it happened to you. :eyebrow:
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When Howard Jones first joined Killswitch Engage they played a song I wrote (when I was in a band with Howard a long time ago) at a few concerts. I never saw a dime, to my knowledge he never acknowledged the origin of the tune, and it didn't bother me a bit. I hope the crowd really enjoyed it. If they did, mission accomplished for me. No big deal.
 
#35
Jim Campbell said:
well you could say that it did for those who created all that great music then lived in poverty while others got rich on their backs.....there is a very enlightening thing by joan baez in the isle of wight movie that sums it up perfectly....while it would be nice to just give it away,people gotta eat,live,buy gear ,braces for the kids etc.....
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... and that's why I got a college education, a masters degree, and a good job with benefits instead of chasing the musical dream. I like a steady paycheck. If you are counting on music to support your family, you are being incredibly irresponsible. For 99.99% of us, music is (and should be) an enjoyable hobby.
 
#36
GrooveWarrior said:
... and that's why I got a college education, a masters degree, and a good job with benefits instead of chasing the musical dream. I like a steady paycheck. If you are counting on music to support your family, you are being incredibly irresponsible. For 99.99% of us, music is (and should be) an enjoyable hobby.
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jeez,dude the world is a much bigger place than your back yard....
 
#38
GrooveWarrior said:
I'm not really sure what that means, but I've had my fun playing out, and still do on occasion. I was just surprised at how litigious everyone was at the beginning of this thread. To the OP, sorry to have taken this off course.
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it;'ds great that you worked hard and had some success,but try to remember that there are many that did not have the opportunities or options that you enjoy......for some the talent they have is all they have to sustain them,and if they have that stolen there may not be any second chances....thats what it means
 
#39
GrooveWarrior said:
... and that's why I got a college education, a masters degree, and a good job with benefits instead of chasing the musical dream. I like a steady paycheck. If you are counting on music to support your family, you are being incredibly irresponsible. For 99.99% of us, music is (and should be) an enjoyable hobby.
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That percentage is a lot smaller than you know. I have several friends who make a more than reasonable living on music and have raised families in comfortable suburban lives. You should open your eyes a bit and realize that music is a lot more than stars on the radio.
 
#40
Jim Campbell said:
it;'ds great that you worked hard and had some success,but try to remember that there are many that did not have the opportunities or options that you enjoy......for some the talent they have is all they have to sustain them,and if they have that stolen there may not be any second chances....thats what it means
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I guess I just refuse to believe that people have only one gift or option in life. There are times we have all had to drop back and punt. Sometimes punting is the best option.

I didn't say I really had any success. I've just enjoyed playing music when and where I can. At this stage of my life, that usually means at church, or an occasional gig when we can all get it together.
 

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