to use or not to use copyrighted music

[Black Lab]

A bit of an exaggeration. I have never sued anyone, nor have I ever been sued. And I don't have a lawyer on retainer. But maybe I'm the only one.

[Hugo]

Just had another thought. Apart from using commercial music in my home movies, I have been known to include edited bits of other movies.

On a cruise to Bermuda, I green-screened an overlay of a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' galleon sailing past our cabin window !!

On a couple of underwater photos, I had an animated bit of 'Finding Nemo' nipping past my lil girl.

One of the PBS channels had a documentary on Peurto Rico, so I incorporated a couple of their aerial shots into my family movie to split screen the above with the on-the-ground shots of us.

Hmmmm. If you don't see me posting for about a 7 year stretch, you'll know why Can I make you any personalised licence plates while I'm in the big house?

[Black Lab]

Seven years? They're gonna lock you up and throw away the key!

[sunshinegirl690]

If you are getting 7yrs then I'm going to get like 40 to life! I made a DVD for the graduation 5th gr class at school....Law and Order was the opening theme! I just love that show(all of them) anyways, I aslo used other music as well. I didn't use any Digital Juice products because I didn't have any. To get the emotion and feelings I used music that everyone knows. It is so hard! Every child has a copy! Everyone wants me to do another one this year, with some sort of opening theme! I may have to rethink this!

[ifixem]

I would like to say thanks for all who have responded to my question. Y'all have gave me a lot to ponder I think I know exactly what I'm going to do... javascript:emoticon(':roll:')
Rolling Eyesbut I'm not going to tell y'all. I did like the one response that mentioned common sense. Unfortunately I think for the most part it's a thing of the past. Anytime someone can sue (and collect) because they spilled hot coffee on themselves and got burned, you know you're in trouble. Thanks again and happy editing.

[DVDDoug]

Here in the USA it is OK to copy music for non-commercial personal use! The exception is that you are NOT allowed to crack copy protection.

The Audio Home Recording Act CONFIRMED THE RIGHT to make non-commercial audio copies. As I understand it, "non-commercial" means you can give copies to your friends... you are not limited to "personal use". (Obviously, you can't make it availabe to all of you "friends" on the Internet.)

The Audio Home Recording Act imposed a royality on recording equipment and media. (However, the royalty is NOT collected on computer burners or regular blank CDs. It IS collected on CDs marked "for audio use".)

The Betamax Case CONFIRMED THE RIGHT to make personal video copies.

The Digital Milennium Copyright Act made it ILLEGAL to circumvent copy protection.

[skier-hughes]

Beatmax case on skim reading appears to be all about time shifting, ie recording a programme for you to watch later.

Not, record a programme for you to alter and add to and then give to friends.

[Black Lab]

That's how I understood the Home Recording Act also. That it is okay to make a copy of an audio recording to listen to as an audio recording. Taking an audio recording and putting it into a video is something different. That's not its intended use.

But I still think the big issue is personal vs. commercial. For personal use it's not that big of a deal. For commercial use you better have a license or permission, or use royalty free.

[Radioman62]

Allthough I'm not that enlightened about the laws around the world i got a point ! I am not alone, thanks god and I also mentioned something that has been forgotten. Thanks ifixem
Common sense

Also, if you think personal vs. comercial. What is your feeling (or carma) on what you are doing. Can you hurt someones work or earnings ? etc.

Another thing, read carefully :
If I want the DVD, Disney treasures "The complete Goofy". It's not for sale anymore as I understand. A very limited edition. It's not possible to buy exept used at E-bay. I can get it via P2P and Torrent ... easily . Now this is only a hard problem for us that live in the rich countrys of the world ....
Would you download it and burn it and watch it with delight, or download it burn it and watch it with fear of the cops, or download it burn it and watch it, then call Disney for a way to place a fund Maybe not at all?

Here in Sweden they have had some lawsuits on this issue but never had any major hit in a way to nail some individual person that download for his own purpose. In this case I think the author can get a damage of it. I will not, personally, agree to take such advantages of another persons work.
But in the Disney example above? How would you procced? Is there anyone here that dare to confess he/she's a "bad "person This Goofy stuff isn't for me. I praise the law and order. Disney have some higher thoughts that I never will understand as a common man, so I leave it to the Elite.

I'm sorry for my verbal diaréa. You should know me when I speak my own native languish ... Maybe I should have been a politician instead of a technician ?

Sorry for this long song. Hmm.. very little about the videomaking

[sjj1805]

This has been debated before:
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 1162#71162

[chrishargrave]

This link
http://www.ccli.co.uk/richtext.asp?page_id=14
may offer some enlightenment for UK.
Many churches have some of these licences which allow various uses which may be OK for weddings etc.

This link
http://www.ccli.co.uk/admin/assets/Quic ... 0Table.pdf
gives a brief guide to the different licences.

You need to check with the church and also get the permission of the performers!

Also some Schools may have licences

I think CCLI is also available in USA and some countries in Europe.

Hope that is of use to some of you

Chris H