COPYRIGHT
Hello, so I just found out today that one of the arrangements I have done by ear was Copyrighted by "Music Sales Limited." How do I undo this or what should I do because I don't see why I have gotten this claim of copyright infringement.
Thanks-Lee-Daniel Tran
Comments
Hi. Copyright is an area that is very tricky. No one here can really give legal advice. Here is some information.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
Copyright is extremely difficult. I don't know much about it myself, but the guys at this forum do.
http://www.soundonsound.com/forum
Hope ths helps
:)
This is a very basic generalisation of UK copyright law.
Copyright law varies depending on your country, and you will need to establish what your local variant is.
Basically the act of creating a song, book symphony, cartoon or other original piece of creative art is automatically given protection from other people plagiarising that work from the moment of its creation.
This copyright remains with the holder and executors until 70 years after death, when the work becomes public domain.
Copyright can be sold to a third party, (such as Music Sales in this instance) in return for cash, when the copyright is transferred and all rights pertaining to it then transfer until 70 years after the original creator dies, when again the work enters the public domain.
So basically, if you hear a tune written by somebody else, and then write it down, you are in breach of copyright for plagiarising their work unless they died more than 70 years ago.
This can be far more complicated than this outline suggests - these are the basics. You should consult a lawyer specialising in copyright issues for more accurate information, particularly if you are not in the UK.
HTH
In reply to This is a very basic by ChurchOrganist
So basically, if you hear a tune written by somebody else, and then write it down, you are in breach of copyright for plagiarising their work unless they died more than 70 years ago.
This is wrong in at least two ways in many countries.
As far as I know, but I'm not a lawyer... In many countries, you don't infringe copyright if you put on paper or in MuseScore a tune that you hear that somebody else composed, even if he is still alive (for several reasons, private study, personal copy exemption etc...) BUT it's copyright infringement if you publish it publicly or share it without permission from the right holders!
Copyright infringement is not plagiarism... "Plagiarism is the "wrongful appropriation" and "stealing and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions" and the representation of them as one's own original work (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism)
So I would refrain to post any copyright advise on this forum if you are not a lawyer and I would refrain to take anything from public forums for granted about copyright laws... If you need legal advise, do talk to a lawyer...
Hi Lee-Daniel,
If you want to make your work available to the public, you need to make sure you have all the permissions needed to do so. If your work is an arrangement based on another work, make sure you have received permission for the right holder of that other work before making your arrangement publicly available. Obviously no one can keep you from using MuseScore to arrange anything, but once you like to make it publicly available, make sure you have all the proper permissions. (3 times the same answer basically)
To find out how you can ask for permission, see http://www.mpaonline.org.uk/FAQ