Ugh...Copyright

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CleansedByMercy

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Hello all!
I have a song posted on Youtube as a cover to MGMT’s “Kids” and somehow this morning noticed that it may be copyright infringement. I am seriously disappointed…

1.) Is it a sin to cover songs on Youtube with my own voice and guitar only without obtaining permission from the actual record label?

…I mean, I am only at about 230 something views…hardly significant…

2.) Does this mean that it is a sin, or infringement, if I am sitting outside on my college campus and strumming my guitar while singing a particular song, let us take “Kids” for example?

…This would be non-profit and only heard by persons who either stop to hear or are passing by…

Thank you for your responses. I know this does not sound like a big deal, and it really is not in the grand scheme of things. However, it does damper my choices for playing music unless I have created it completely myself (which I have not completed). I enjoy covering certain songs and learning to play them because it helps me to get better but what good is it if I learn a song and then cannot share it with anyone who may enjoy it? Is it really sinful for me to learn a song my girlfriend and hopefully soon-to-be fiancé enjoys and then play it for her?

God bless!
 
putting works on You Tube that are not original is copyright infringement.

Playing guitar and singing in your home, in the park, on campus, etc, is not.
 
CleansedByMercy said:
Hello all!
I have a song posted on Youtube as a cover to MGMT’s “Kids” and somehow this morning noticed that it may be copyright infringement. I am seriously disappointed…

1.) Is it a sin to cover songs on Youtube with my own voice and guitar only without obtaining permission from the actual record label?

…I mean, I am only at about 230 something views…hardly significant…

2.) Does this mean that it is a sin, or infringement, if I am sitting outside on my college campus and strumming my guitar while singing a particular song, let us take “Kids” for example?

…This would be non-profit and only heard by persons who either stop to hear or are passing by…

Thank you for your responses. I know this does not sound like a big deal, and it really is not in the grand scheme of things. However, it does damper my choices for playing music unless I have created it completely myself (which I have not completed). I enjoy covering certain songs and learning to play them because it helps me to get better but what good is it if I learn a song and then cannot share it with anyone who may enjoy it? Is it really sinful for me to learn a song my girlfriend and hopefully soon-to-be fiancé enjoys and then play it for her?

God bless!
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No sin because you didn’t do it on purpose, and usually there is no need to worry about copyright infringement unless you actually do start making money. Then you have a problem. Want to make money? Need to get permission. Even churches have to do that, though sometimes fees are waived.

Sitting outisde your dorm playing music and someone gives you money? No, that is not infringment either, for the most part. No artist is going to bust you for that, and no it is not sinning. Play a song for your girlfriend and good luck on the engagement!
 
Did not mean to imply that illegality and immorality are always necessarily the same thing, by the way. In a case like this where the act is not inherently evil, I think reference to the legality of the act can be a guide to its morality. But thats a topic for a whole different thread.
 
Mixed responses…

So is it sinful to post a cover song on Youtube. In my case, of the song “Kids”?

If so, I need to remove the song…

I guess I struggle with it because I am not currently making any money from the video (although I did just sign up for the monetize thing from Youtube… Will surely back out) and cannot see it as much different from playing the song I am covering to a couple of friends…

Thank you and God bless!
 
CleansedByMercy said:
Mixed responses…

So is it sinful to post a cover song on Youtube. In my case, of the song “Kids”?

No, it is not sinful.

If so, I need to remove the song…

I guess I struggle with it because I am not currently making any money from the video (although I did just sign up for the monetize thing from Youtube… Will surely back out) and cannot see it as much different from playing the song I am covering to a couple of friends…

Thank you and God bless!
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searching04:
Could you please explain to me why? … I am one of those persons who feels he needs to be informed…

I would really appreciate it and any other responses…

Thank you and God bless!
 
CleansedByMercy said:
Mixed responses…

So is it sinful to post a cover song on Youtube. In my case, of the song “Kids”?

If so, I need to remove the song…

I guess I struggle with it because I am not currently making any money from the video (although I did just sign up for the monetize thing from Youtube… Will surely back out) and cannot see it as much different from playing the song I am covering to a couple of friends…

Thank you and God bless!
Click to expand...
Recording and posting copyrighted works on You Tube violates copyright and violates the terms of service of You Tube.

It can be sinful to purposely disregard legitimate civil laws that do not contravene the moral law. Copyright laws protect the rights of those who created the works, and the Church teaches we must obey legitimate civil laws.

So, yes, purposely posting copy protected material on You Tube knowing it is violating the law does rise to the level of sinful. Of course, past actions were not sinful as you did not know you were not allowed to do this.
 
1ke said:
Recording and posting copyrighted works on You Tube violates copyright and violates the terms of service of You Tube.

It can be sinful to purposely disregard legitimate civil laws that do not contravene the moral law. Copyright laws protect the rights of those who created the works, and the Church teaches we must obey legitimate civil laws.

So, yes, purposely posting copy protected material on You Tube knowing it is violating the law does rise to the level of sinful. Of course, past actions were not sinful as you did not know you were not allowed to do this.
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WHy is it okay then for me to play music that is copyrighted (still using the example of “Kids”) in public at the park, or on campus where people will hear? Or even for that matter, if I am asked to play at an open-mic night or at a church function…

I just do not want to be sinning lol…
 
Also, whether or not you are violating copyright has nothing to do with whether or not you are making money from it.
 
First of all, youtube is a public distribution medium. Even though a physical product is not involved, those digital bits are songs or movies. Most of my friends are writers and artists, including one musician. All of them began by copying professional work to understand how to do it. They then moved on to create original material.

A Lot of people think copying something without making money off it is OK. Not according to the FBI.

fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/cyber/ipr/anti-piracy

From the youtube Terms of Service agreement.

“D.You further agree that Content you submit to the Service will not contain third party copyrighted material, or material that is subject to other third party proprietary rights, unless you have permission from the rightful owner of the material or you are otherwise legally entitled to post the material and to grant YouTube all of the license rights granted herein.”

Full Terms of Service:

youtube.com/static?gl=US&template=terms

About performing in public:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performing_rights

I have a friend who plays covers in his house all the time. He’s a guitarist, drummer and vocalist. He does this to stay in practice and because he loves music.

Hope this helps,
Ed
 
CleansedByMercy said:
WHy is it okay then for me to play music that is copyrighted (still using the example of “Kids”) in public at the park, or on campus where people will hear? Or even for that matter, if I am asked to play at an open-mic night or at a church function…

I just do not want to be sinning lol…
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Their hearing is incidental, not the purpose of your playing. If you purchased sheet music and are practicing it or playing it in your own home, them hearing you is not copyright infringement.

If you are performing the work, such as at a club, then you need to ensure you are following the publisher’s requirements.
 
1ke said:
Their hearing is incidental, not the purpose of your playing. If you purchased sheet music and are practicing it or playing it in your own home, them hearing you is not copyright infringement.

If you are performing the work, such as at a club, then you need to ensure you are following the publisher’s requirements.
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What if, however, the purpose of my playing is to play in the park or on campus for people to hear me? Not necessarily a general performance as in a club or bar or something but just on campus for whoever is around to hear…
 
CleansedByMercy said:
What if, however, the purpose of my playing is to play in the park or on campus for people to hear me? Not necessarily a general performance as in a club or bar or something but just on campus for whoever is around to hear…
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now you are being scrupulous.
 
1ke said:
now you are being scrupulous.
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No, now he is recognizing that one of the exclusive rights that the copyright holder has is the right to do and to authorize (or not authorize) “perform[ing] the copyrighted work publicly.”. 17 USC 106(4).
 
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