Clarification on covers requested

[geo731]

I know that rockband network has a no cover policy. Does that mean if a band like Social Disturbance wanted to release Ring Of Fire on rbn it would have been stopped since it was a cover of Johnny Cash, even though in the regular store it was released. Or, if a single was released on a billboard track, even if it is a cover, can it be on rockband network?

[yaniv297]

I'm only guessing here, but I don't think there will be a problem with professional covers from professional bands (like if Muse wants to release I'm Feeling Good).
It's more in order to stop cover bands like The Virtual Zeppelin or The Australian Pink Floyd from uploading exact covers of LZ and PF songs into RB...

[masterantonio]

Would it be possible to do metal covers of mozart, or chopin?

[Chopper13]

As long as you have the legal rights to the song, your fine. I think

[Zephiel]

There's always public domain songs. For he's a jolly good fellow...~

[davidshek]

There's always public domain songs. For he's a jolly good fellow...~

Nope, even public domain songs are out. There's a quote around here somewhere about that.

[k-mac]

what about a traditional song arranged by the band - ie. "Trad. Arr by (band name)"

[SHPhr34k]

No covers or arrangements will be permitted at all, no matter how big the band is.

[geo731]

So the only way to get covers by major recording artists in the game is through the regular DLC. There are many songs that have been re-made only to chart higher and be more successful by their new artist than the original.

[LuigiHann]

Just having a cover version that is successful doesn't mean you own the rights to do whatever you want with the song. The contract that is negotiated to legally record a cover version of a song... only regards the audio itself, as part of a CD album, etc. So you wouldn't be able to include it in another media format (like a video game or movie) without re-licensing the song. "Real" DLC is able to do that, because they have lawyers to deal with that crap. RBN is more straightforward in assuming that the same entity owns the copyright to both the written music, and the recording... Which isn't the case with covers.