Copyright Question:

[Dolce27]

I know that lots of people put together fanvid’s where they take clips from their favorite television show and set it to a song – creating their own music video- and post it on the internet, or people will take their photos and put it to a slide show with a song as a background; my question is this:

Are you breaking any copyright laws by doing this?

I’m shooting my step-brother’s wedding in a few weeks as a gift to them. Along with the actual photos, I wanted to put together a CD with a slideshow of many of the photos set to music. Legally, am I allowed to do this?

 

[Master Mason]

I believe as long as you legally own it, and are not selling it, then your fine... But I am certainly not a coypright lawyer either...

 

[jann1033]

if you are asking about the music end, my slide show creator has some music already in it so i am guessing that is ok for sure ( pse5) and also has a way to add your own music to photos you took. maybe if you were selling it but for your own personal use don't see how that would be any different than going to lime wire for music. don't know about the tv show video. that sounds more iffy cause you don't own that tv show.

 

[MassJester]

You are not legally entitled to distribute copywritten works without the permission of the copyright holder.

 

[pyrxtc]

well, since you are taking the photos, you own that copyright. youc ould do whatever you wanted with them. the music, however, is owned by whoever wrote/sang/produced it and you do not have the right to sell it. You can make copies of it for your personal use (brothers wedding video would qy=ualify) but don't try to make money with it or mass distribute it or you will get heck!

 

[jann1033]

You are not legally entitled to distribute copywritten works without the permission of the copyright holder.

in that case evidently the program has permission for the music it contains although it specifically says you can load your own songs wouldn't it be illegal for them to tell you to commit an illegal act?

 

[MassJester]

in that case evidently the program has permission for the music it contains although it specifically says you can load your own songs wouldn't it be illegal for them to tell you to commit an illegal act?

The short answer is "yes." Although the long answer is much more complete.

They may very well have permission to use the songs included in their package, in fact, it's likely. You may use any song you like to which you have legitimate license (through purchase of media, grant of the copyright holder, or use of material in the public domain). What you are prohibited from doing is taking this marriage of your work, and anothers to which you have license for personal use, and distributing it beyond the grant of your most restrictive license.

 

[boBQuincy]

I’m shooting my step-brother’s wedding in a few weeks as a gift to them. Along with the actual photos, I wanted to put together a CD with a slideshow of many of the photos set to music. Legally, am I allowed to do this?

Legally, probably not, depending on the music. Most music is protected under two licenses, one for the composition, one for the performance. To copy and distribute that performance you must acquire rights to both licenses.

Are you likely to have any problems from this? Probably not, unless your work gets noticed by someone in the music industry and they decide to cause problems.

The deciding factor is mainly "did you cause the artist to lose any potential royalties" but if the music industry wants to cause you trouble, they usually can no matter what.

 

[Dolce27]

I legally own the song that I want to use with the pictures. I do not plan to mass-produce in any form or fashion, nor accept money for it. I want to make one CD for my step-brother and his new wife of a slideshow of their wedding pictures set to music.

 

[MassJester]

I legally own the song that I want to use with the pictures. I do not plan to mass-produce in any form or fashion, nor accept money for it. I want to make one CD for my step-brother and his new wife of a slideshow of their wedding pictures set to music.

Actually, you don't own it. You have license to use it.

 

[boBQuincy]

I legally own the song that I want to use with the pictures. I do not plan to mass-produce in any form or fashion, nor accept money for it. I want to make one CD for my step-brother and his new wife of a slideshow of their wedding pictures set to music.

I think it's a great idea! I "know" people who have done just what you are thinking of and the CDs make great gifts for the happy couple.

Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of the music industry and certainly no fan of their implementation of DRM. It's just that they don't see things like we do.
One copy is not likely to attract any attention...

 

[Dolce27]

Actually, you don't own it. You have license to use it.

That's what I meant. I was trying to state that I've legally purchased the right to use the song for myself, I didn't download it for free or anything. I want to make one copy to use on the CD as a wedding gift.

I do see a lot of people using images and music for their own created videos and such posted on the internet and I just wondered at what point the music industry feels that it is an infringement on the copyright and would take legal action.

Obviously, I don't want to do anything illegal. I was curious that if I would infringe on the copyright by making one copy to give as a gift to go with my photos.

 

[Groucho]

This is one of those things that's probably broken more often than not, mainly because to do things 100% legally would be hugely more difficult.

Copyright owners are more and more trying to take away any ability to "own" a copy of anything - once you own it, you shouldn't need to buy it ever again, right? Well, they'd rather keep the revenue stream up. It's not enough that you buy your music on album, tape, CD, SACD/DVD-audio, and online, and your movies in the theater, rental, VHS, DVD, and highdef, but the "subscription" idea is one they like, too. This is what Napster currently does - pay a fixed fee every month and get all the music you want, but as soon as you stop paying, you lose it all. Software is going that way, too - Microsoft is starting to push a subscription model for their OSs and Office apps.

But I'm going on a tangent. If you buy a CD, I believe you're legally entitled to listen to it yourself. You can loan it to your friend but they not allowed to make a copy of it. You'd not allowed to play it for an audience (a DJ who does weddings, etc, could probably explain that situation, but I believe there are special fees they have to pay)...

So, basically, you can use it for your own stuff. As soon as you make a copy, even just one for a family member, I believe it's technically illegal.

Of course, what's the alternative? Buy CDs for every compilation you make? Get some sort of alternative license? Compose and record your own music? I'd lean towards "do it and apologize if the RIAA gets wind of you making a CD with music for a wedded couple."

All those homemade music videos and such are technically illegal, too. There's huge amounts of illegal copyrighted stuff on YouTube and other online video sites - partly because it would be a nearly impossible task to go through it all to find infringements.

 

[MassJester]

Yes, exactly.

 

[Dolce27]

Thanks for everyone's response.

 

[manning]

Legally all you can do is listen to the music or give it to someone else (the original, not a copy.)

What I won't tell you is make the video and give it to the couple. Getting caught is next to nil.

What you don't want to do is make a hundred copies, stand on a street corner and try to sell them.

If you get what I mean.