SiPie

Done a fair bit of digging but interested to hear from anyone who has had any 'issues' along the way.

In summary:

Live performances (paid and charity)

Demo recorded (obviously not for re-sale)

Artwork for 5 track demo CD cover ripped off from artist but suitably humorously altered

Website currently containing no demo sound clips

Any advice appreciated

The Zohan

Are you on about music copyright or image copyright.

Is your demo your own work or using someone else's songs, assuming it is somone elses (artists) songs then - If in doubt call the MCPS and enquire about the music copyright. The copyright usually falls into two camps the artist who sings and the person/company who owns the song/words/music.

If it is a demio and not for resale or promotion other than sending to record companies then you should be OK but do check with MCPS.

If playing copyrighted tracks for money the you will need a licence and to pay fees.

http://www.mcps.co.uk/

SiPie

Thanks Paul

Have been digging round the MCPS site....

Just wanted to hear effectively 'how big' you can get before people come knocking on doors....

Thanks

The Zohan

MCPS employ people who just turn up at bars, clubs and check to see who ansd what is on althought the bigger you are the more chance you have of being on their radar.

Being 'caught' could well cost ££££'s although i have no direct experiences of bands i know a event producer who used Spingsteins Born in the USA track for an event without clearance and got a £10K fine for his trouble.

davegtt

Just send an email off to Jack, Im sure he'll give you the nod for the work your doing spreading his music

Take it your quite popular now then?

SiPie

Just back from seeing him in Paris last Monday Dave.... Brilliant

I'm 100% certain Jack would be cool about it, but it's the publishers etc that would be out to get their bit

Things have gone a bit silly mate, the timing has just been perfect

However, I'm holding off putting www.jockjohnson.co.uk on-line and going down the full promotional road until any issues re sound clips of our demo have been finalised.

If you want to e-mail me your address at Si@Jockjohnson.co.uk then I will send you our 5 track demo disc down....and you can see what you think

davegtt

Email sent, cheers.

Think Jack will probably be chuffed to bits just to know he has a tribute band let alone try and stop you performing. Bloody suits wanting a piece of the cake

ScoobyDoo555

OK, not entirely sure what you're asking for, but I'll give as much info as I can :-

Performance aspect will be covered under the venue's PRS license (the band might get asked to fill in a track list, depending on how many people the venue holds - if it's over 500 IIRC)

MCPS will pretty much kick in if you're charging the public for your demo CDs. Or if they feel a breech of copyright in the CD artwork. Or feel that any audio clips are in breech of copyright.
You HAVE to claim it.

If they catch you, they can pull the whole thing, fine you (heavily) and ban you from performing the material in public. That's before the artists' legal side get involved.

9/10 times, if you ask for permission, they grant it, as imitation is one of the highest forms of flattery. Plus it's only common courtesy.

To give an example, the artist Bjork used a Scanner sample in one of her songs. Scanner found out. The legal side pulled EVERT copy of the shelves, and when she asked to use the sample, he said "no".
This resulted in the sond having to be remixed without the sample (circa£3K), the artwork to be amended to credit the new sample used (x amount of £KKKKK). All the CDs repressed and distributed (too much money)

All because permission to use a stupid sample wasn't applied for......


Expensive mistake.

Dan

SiPie

Nope... purely for promo purposes

Thanks very much Dan

Will play it safe and get in touch

Thanks again all

ScoobyDoo555

No probs

Dan

SiPie

Been in touch with MCPS and all sorted

Thanks again folks