Or maybe that's why everyone here uses MP3.com for posting their music.

I'm in the middle of 4 different books and I'm familiar with copyright laws but with the web is worldwide and I'm paranoid about sharing.

I'm new at the digital music thing but I am really worried that if I put something out that was really impressive, that someone else may steal it.

I'll just make more but I was just curious on the org's musicians' thoughts on this.

Thanks
[This message was edited Wed Aug 28 18:23:16 PDT 2002 by JamesMarshallHendrix]

Actually mp3.com offers no copyright service what so ever. A warning to artists thinking of using that site.

No one can copy my music, the mp3s on my site are encoded so only one CD can be made from them & so my details are also displayed on every copy. Also my name 'cloud9 mission' is copyrighted over the internet (I know some people ) & my website is secure as a gnats arse.

So long as everyone takes such precautions, you'll be just fine.

God bless

Lewis

Cloud-
Your one of the people I thought of first because your stuff is so cool.

I'm not talking about someone ripping off the mp3 or the digital files but the idea.

The bass riff, lyric, hook or just a melody. Y'know?

JamesMarshallHendrix said:

The best way to handle that is to put your songs on a disc (tape, dat or whatever) & mail it to yourself via signed selaed delivery (DONT OPEN IT). That way if anyone claims ownership of your songs you have proof that its yours.

Another way is to give a copy to a bank. It stands very highly in a court of law if you have a trust worthy person to back you up

hehe, I couldnt see anyone wanting to steal my songs. Gotta be good first

actually, thanks to lobbying by the RIAA, the old method of mailing yourself a parcel of your art does not always stand up in court anymore.

You must follow proper copyright procedures for your country and it will hold in international court as well as in your home country court.

Dauphin said:

Dont affect me, Im British but thats a little heavy to just to proove ownership of your art

JamesMarshallHendrix said:

There's always that risk, JMH. And even though as a copywritten work you don't have to send yourself your lyrics, or sheet music, or a tape/cd of your composition; it's not a bad back up idea, considering it will exhibit a date.
[This message was edited Thu Aug 29 8:08:43 PDT 2002 by Supernova]

At this point I don't care much. Why should I be the only person listening to my music. If I ever do well with it, it won't be with the songs I've written, it will be with the songs I write. I see music as art and not as an investment. Art to be shared with everyone so everyone can enjoy. If the song gets out to the masses, then cool. Yeah I'd like the credit but to me it's not important right now. I know who wrote it.

Cloud 9 is right about mp3.com and copyrights. MP3.com leaves it up solely to the artist. "As between you and us, you reatin ownership of the copyrights and all other rights in the intellectual property furnished by you for our use hereunder, subject only to the non-exclusive rights granted to us under this Agreement. You are free to grant similar rights to others during and after the term of this Agreement."

www.mp3.com/SamuelSongs

Samuel said:

Way I always look at it is that I may say things like 'I see music as art and not as an investment' now but when someone else is making millions from a song I wrote, I'd be pretty gutted. Always take precautions where your copyright is concerned

Lewis

Yeah I should be looking into it. Seems to cost a lot of money to do it right. It would be awful having a song all over the radio and no one believing it's yours. That's my baby!! yeah right.

Get real guys !!

If tomorrow Enrique Eglisias (for e.g.) surfs on mp3.com & decide to "take" your songs, there's really nothing you can do about it.
The major companies are above the law, they got the money & the power, even the RIAA & the ASCAP can't fuck with 'em, and anyway they don't care about protecting the "little guys", they're too busy making money on other artists back.

Anyway, this is a real rare case that a major artist steal the work of "little guys".
Major artists generally steal copyrighted material, cuz "copyright" is a joke, and they don't give a fuck about it.

Brian McKnight did a rip-off of Meshell Ndegeocello's "Outside your door" & get a N°1 with "Anytime" and there was nothing she could do about it, cuz Brian was a more popular artist.

Michael Jackson did a rip-off of Manu Dibango's "Soul Makossa" on "Wanna be startin' somethin'" , needless to tell ya what an african artist can do against Michael Jackson...

The list is endless & I remember this guys who try to get justice done against the Rolling Stones who stole his track 15 years ago.
He just lose lots of time, energy & money...

So the risk is there, but it's like one in a million.

All I know is that any artist who would rip off my music must be hard up for ideas, which means that they suck and I obviously must not suck. So, if they do rip it off, I say, what comes around goes around. I am an ASCAP member, but not that it matters, because if someone's intention is to rip you off, they will do it no matter if you agree to the licensing or not. That's why I make it a point to share my music freely. I am not trying to make any money, just friends and support. And if something big comes out of that, then it is simply a blessing, as is the talent that I have been given is a blessing from God, which I am thankful for every day. But as far as copyrights, RIAA has no say so in what the copyright acts of 1978 lay forth. Here is a link to the acts...


http://www.bitlaw.com/source/17usc/


Peace y'all,

JD

ChimChimBadass said:

They cant do that to me. Made sure all my tracks are sorted legally before I put em online. MCPS will take care of it

So, what I've gathered is that just like every other BUSINESS, the little guy gets the shaft if the big guy (with money) wants to have his way with you.

That's too bad. I'll still have to share with my org musicians just to keep perspective but I won't be posting for the masses, that's for sure.

The copyright laws state that as soon as an idea is created, it's copyrighted by the creator (automatically). Then for $150 you can register it with the government to make it official. This is for art or music (from what I've read). Then it's just how much can you afford in attorney fees I guess.

"When I want to hear some new music, I just make it" - Prince, 2002

JamesMarshallHendrix said:

Actually you don't have to register your copyright if you don't want to. And it's STILL valid if you don't. BUT, if you want to, there's nothing wrong with that either.

But I understand your apprehension with sharing your music with the WWW. You never know where your chord progressions, lyrics or melodies will eventually show up.

ChimChimBadass said:

True. In fact, copyright infringement isn't as prevalent as most might think it is.


Not true. She could have done something if she had wanted to. In a nutshell she basically said she didn't care.
[This message was edited Fri Aug 30 12:43:27 PDT 2002 by Supernova]