Question regarding the no covers thing

[animemetalhead]

A cover of David Bowie's Fame with Snoop Dogg on vocals just popped up in the review process.

Guess we'll see what happens, and whatever the outcome is guess it'll answer this question once and for all.

I may have just lost faith in the RBN....

[GeneralGilliam]

I have a question regarding the no covers thing... Do video game covers count? There are bands that cover video game music HOWEVER, they do not keep the names of the original songs nor do they make any reference whatsoever to the original music. This technically wouldn't be a cover, it would just be song that sounds really similar to the video game song?

[trg007]

I have a question regarding the no covers thing... Do video game covers count? There are bands that cover video game music HOWEVER, they do not keep the names of the original songs nor do they make any reference whatsoever to the original music. This technically wouldn't be a cover, it would just be song that sounds really similar to the video game song?

If it uses actual melodies from someone else's composition (more than a few seconds worth, anyway - I'm not sure if there's a legal definition of how much you're allowed to sample) then no. If it's a completely original composition that sounds like a video game track (i.e., chiptune music) then it's OK.

[GeneralGilliam]

Alright, also what about a band such as The Black Mages? The lead member of the band was the person who made the original songs for the video game company to put in their games, now he and his rock band make prog. rock covers of them adding whole new choruses, guitar solos and original verses. What would be the policy regarding that? (I know that is pretty confusing, sorry)

[trg007]

Alright, also what about a band such as The Black Mages? The lead member of the band was the person who made the original songs for the video game company to put in their games, now he and his rock band make prog. rock covers of them adding whole new choruses, guitar solos and original verses. What would be the policy regarding that? (I know that is pretty confusing, sorry)

Music copyright laws ARE confusing. That's something that nobody here can answer. The guy would need to get in touch with an entertainment lawyer. Chances are that he may not own 100% of the rights to the songs. He may need to get permission from the game's publisher, even for his "new versions" of the songs.

[GeneralGilliam]

alrigght thanks. Sorry for so many random questions, but I want to send letters about the RBN to a couple bands like that, but I wanted to be sure the bands, Harmonix, or myself would not be sued should they agree.