Covers on RBN

[kingtonyx]

Just to make things clear, what would be the difference in these 3 scenarios?

A) A Day To Remember charts their cover of Since U Been Gone and submits it to RBN.

B) Wavegroup has a cover of Since U Been Gone sitting around, they submit it to RBN.

C) A local band does a cover of Since U Been Gone and submits it to RBN

just wondering :)

[SonicRocker15X]

For all three, they most likely need to have some legal confirmation that they were allowed to profit from the cover.

[Luur32]

I'm pretty sure they need the rights to make covers (I could be wrong), so the local one might be out of it.

Honestly, I dont know how covers will work.

[skyttskytt]

I don't think there's a problem until a variation of scenario C is that it's a garage band type situation where they recorded it during their private play between themselves and are looking to profit without having obtained the rights to play it.

[snwns26]

I don't know much about this stuff but I believe A and B are cases where the covering artist got permission to cover it and use the song however in C the small band may not have done that for some reason.

I'm interested in knowing if my band covered "Everytime we touch" as a metal song with no vox if we would be able to record it and put it up there without any trouble.

[ShadowChaosControl]

i wonder if an underground/indie band could, my band plays mostly covers, and i at least want something up there, i'm a horrible songwriter

[fatalvendetta]

You have to own the rights to the masters. It says that in the press release and/or the site.

[kingtonyx]

You have to own the rights to the masters. It says that in the press release and/or the site.

right, but all of those bands would own master recordings of their covers

[skyttskytt]

right, but all of those bands would own master recordings of their covers

I think the question at that point is do they own the rights to produce those masters in the first place? It'll be easy to catch the covers of popular songs, but I think it'll be hard to catch garage band A covering garage band B. Then again, who wants to lose a $100 license, as well as be sued if caught?

[ExcessNeo]

right, but all of those bands would own master recordings of their covers

Yes, but you still need permission from the owners of the original recordings to produce a for profit cover song. Otherwise Wavegroup could cover literally every song that is inaccessible as it's original version so we would have the "huge bands" everyone cares so much about.

[HMXMister_Game]

Covers will not be allowed to be submitted for RBN. We made this decision in order to simplify the process by which we can assure ourselves that the submitter of the song owns all the necessary rights.

[GNFfhqwhgads]

Nothing happens in OP's scenario, because no one wants to buy Since U Been Gone.

[skyttskytt]

Covers will not be allowed to be submitted for RBN. We made this decision in order to simplify the process by which we can assure ourselves that the submitter of the song owns all the necessary rights.

Yay. I'd be sad to see covers everywhere. Thank you all for that decision. And, hey a new HMXer. :)

[kingtonyx]

Covers will not be allowed to be submitted for RBN. We made this decision in order to simplify the process by which we can assure ourselves that the submitter of the song owns all the necessary rights.

This makes sense, good call.

A Day To Remember's version of that song was a single with a video and all of that, that's why I thought maybe it would be handled differently than a local band covering it.

[Lawdog1521]

This is all academic since RBN won’t have covers but just to clarify for some any band can cover any song regardless of the original artist consent. As bizarre as it sounds the only claim the OA has would be to what percentage of the profit they receive… however they can’t actually stop someone from releasing their own version of a song. (The exception being the OA retains first release rights.)

This was established in 1909 and you can thank the piano roll industry for it. (Can’t allow a monopoly on “camp town races”!)

[LollipopChoob]

Nothing happens in OP's scenario, because no one wants to buy Since U Been Gone.

ding

[Sportzter]

I would think that HMX will have to somehow know who the owner of the song is for new material too.


Covers will not be allowed to be submitted for RBN. We made this decision in order to simplify the process by which we can assure ourselves that the submitter of the song owns all the necessary rights.

This all but stipulates that we will only get original works from artists and songwriters.

[carmine15]

They said no cover songs in rbn they need complete ownership

[kingtonyx]

Nothing happens in OP's scenario, because no one wants to buy Since U Been Gone.

pretty sure it'd be a huge seller

[Sportzter]

What about parodies like Wierd Al?

[HMXEnosity]

What about parodies like Wierd Al?

I believe parodies are under the same legal umbrella as cover songs.

[Vedicardi]

"Covers will not be allowed to be submitted for RBN. We made this decision in order to simplify the process by which we can assure ourselves that the submitter of the song owns all the necessary rights."

That's too bad, though it makes sense.

[Vedicardi]

I believe parodies are under the same legal umbrella as cover songs.

Parodies are completely untouchable legally so you don't need any sort of paperwork to put those in the game.

Shouldn't rather.

But maybe you guys will play it safe and just avoid them anyway

[RetroMonster]

For all three, they most likely need to have some legal confirmation that they were allowed to profit from the cover.

Yeah I think they need to be legally made not illegally otherwise you'll get caught and fined. B!G T!ME

[Sarge51]

I think the covers will be a huge gray area.

For one you have parodies, like Weird Al, as said. and you have signed bands that do covers, like Guns N Roses' "Sweet Child Of Mine".

I think the main thing is you can't just turn on the recording device and play a Bon Jovi song with your voice and your instruments, then expect it to pass through the RBN without some kind of legal safety net.

[LuigiHann]

Parodies are completely untouchable legally so you don't need any sort of paperwork to put those in the game.

Shouldn't rather.

But maybe you guys will play it safe and just avoid them anyway

If it's a parody like Weird Al does them, it would still be considered a cover, since the song is musically copied from the original, and the original artist is credited as songwriter. Al's label does pay royalties to the original songwriters for all his direct parodies, you know.

If you parodied a song and wrote your own just-different-enough melody, then you'd be legally protected and not have to worry about it.

[davidshek]

This was established in 1909 and you can thank the piano roll industry for it. (Can’t allow a monopoly on “camp town races”!)

Sweet, our cover of Camp Town Races is safe! :D


If it's a parody like Weird Al does them, it would still be considered a cover, since the song is musically copied from the original, and the original artist is credited as songwriter. Al's label does pay royalties to the original songwriters for all his direct parodies, you know.

Actually, Weird Al never copies music. He always has it re-recorded, and just slightly different enough from the original to be usable without copyright worries. Usually that just involves transposing the key of the song up or down half a step or so.

[Alvarado6411]

Covers will not be allowed to be submitted for RBN. We made this decision in order to simplify the process by which we can assure ourselves that the submitter of the song owns all the necessary rights.

Can I submit a song that is not mine but I had permission from the record label?

Also, how will I be able to show proof to HMX that I got the ok from the label/band.

[davidshek]

Can I submit a song that is not mine but I had permission from the record label?

Also, how will I be able to show proof to HMX that I got the ok from the label/band.

One would hope (and expect) there to be some sort of written contract between you and the label/band giving you permission to use their copyrighted content. Send a copy to HMX, and there's your proof.

[Alvarado6411]

One would hope (and expect) there to be some sort of written contract between you and the label/band giving you permission to use their copyrighted content. Send a copy to HMX, and there's your proof.

Now this is where I need more info. Would I be having to get a lawyer? I have been in contact with bands and I have offered to do all the RBN work for them.

[davidshek]

Now this is where I need more info. Would I be having to get a lawyer? I have been in contact with bands and I have offered to do all the RBN work for them.

Unless you can write up the legal jargon yourself, yes, hiring the services of an entertainment contract lawyer would be your best option there.

[hmxsean]

Honestly not much of a difference regarding end result. All three would most likely me turned down from the program. Unless you have copious reams of paper declaring full rights to cover the song and sell it in all forms including our game it would violate not only out TOS but most likely IP law.

[kingtonyx]

Honestly not much of a difference regarding end result. All three would most likely me turned down from the program. Unless you have copious reams of paper declaring full rights to cover the song and sell it in all forms including our game it would violate not only out TOS but most likely IP law.

makes sense :)

I wondered if maybe because the ADTR version was a single with a video and altered slightly if it would be a different situation