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using cover songs to sync
I’m making a doc for an individual wanting to use Christian cover songs…I told her they would still need to be licensed and she said…
“Most of the instrumentals were recording at a home studio with a keyboard. All of the arrangements came from a free site and based on my research, they can be used (since they are advertised as free) and it falls under the fair-use guidelines.”
If this isn’t true is there a website that would state so?
Thanks,
Randy -
2 Replies
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I don’t know how many different ways I can say it – It doesn’t matter if the copyright holder advertises the music as “free”. Profit or lack of it has nothing to do with copyright. Most “free” music on the Internet comes with a license, or terms of use. The license almost always states “for personal use only”. The project you describe is not for personal use. Lack of a license does not mean that the work is in Public Domain; it just means that the copyright owner is sloppy and hasn’t disclosed the license terms.
I am certain that if you look in the website you will probably find something that states the uses allowed. A.K.A, a license.
Any other use requires an explicit license stating how you may use the music. If you don’t have it, you are risking copyright violation. It doesn’t have to be a formal document. It could be as simple as a handwritten note from the copyright owner.
Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com -
Thanks very much Steve, she is now going to consult an attorney.
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