Sorry Michael - missed giving you my take on your question about the songs! Unfortunately, you probably aint going to like my answer.
Bottom line
Doesnt matter whether you are trading them, giving them away or selling them - if it is a previously recorded/published song the law requires that it has to be licensed prior to any of those acts. If you create a sequence of some previously published song in your home, which is what you are doing, and it goes no further than that, then that is no problem and no licenses are required. Once it leaves the house and is played publicly or you distribute it then everything changes.
On a prior website I offered free MP3 files of previously published songs (covers). I had to license the songs and for each of those songs downloaded pay the going royalty rate .085 cents per downloaded song to the Administrator of the license of each song.
Obviously you may not like what you read here so before you decide to come after me and kill me because of these laws just remember they arent my laws. Also, a large segment of the population thinks these laws suck so consequently any discussion of them usually brings chaos, hate mongering and discontent to the discussion. Nevertheless ..!!
SwompRabbit
----- Original Message -----From: swomp_rabbit@...Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 3:03 PMSubject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] RE: 80's Anyone?Well there you are you trouble maker you!! Just kidding....Just kidding. (Ha)Man - we need some Smiley Faces around here so people know what you mean when you say something.Michael - you don't owe anyone any apologies. You haven't started a firestorm either. That accusation will fall to me I am afraid if this one really blows. Now poor Ricci, that's another matter. (Ha) Probably feels like they stepped off the train into a pile of poo-poo! Yea - that one falls to me also. I apparantly have asked a "Poo-Poo" question. (Ha again)You just keep on truckin' with them 80's tunes Michael and stay tuned.SwompRabbit----- Original Message -----From: MichaelL33@...Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 3:14 PMSubject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] RE: 80's Anyone?I started all this mess so my sincere apologies for
that. Initially I had only wanted to "trade"
sequences I had made for other
songs in the 80's era (covers, not originals). Does
anyone know if that is ok, trading I mean as opposed
to buying?
Any information is appreciated and I honestly didn't
mean to start a firestorm here, again I'm sorry about
that, I just play in
an 80's band and was hoping to share some of my work
and add a few new songs to my bands set list without
having to
program for hours..and hours...etc. I don't mind
doing the work it's just that I rarely have that kind
of free time. That's all
this was really about.
Thanks everyone
Michael