Copyrighted music?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jndietz
  • Start date Start date
You can't get sued for a riff or a chord progression. It's the melody.
 
There are a million riff rip-offs. You can't get sued for that. I think it's only if the melody of the vocals has more than 5 notes in a row with the same pitch and duration. I may be way off because I can't back that up. It's just something I think I once heard or read.

Music is art so there is no definite way of telling if a melody is too close to another melody to say its a copyright infringement. Its totally subjective and can could cost shit loads in the court rooms!
Its in the judges hands.

Eck
 
I'm no lawyer, but from my understanding, in the US at least, the lyrics and the melody are what constitute a song. Not the chord progression or the rhythm.
 
A riff is a melody though.

Eck

I'm no lawyer, but from my understanding, in the US at least, the lyrics and the melody are what constitute a song. Not the chord progression or the rhythm.

Exactly.

Eck, I don't think it's a subjective thing. I couldn't be bothered to Google it, but I'm pretty sure there are specific guidelines. Like I was saying, it's something like 5 notes in a row from the melody of the VOCALS. Now, interpreting how close 2 songs are might be subjective, but I'm pretty sure there is a formula to follow.
 
Exactly.

Eck, I don't think it's a subjective thing. I couldn't be bothered to Google it, but I'm pretty sure there are specific guidelines. Like I was saying, it's something like 5 notes in a row from the melody of the VOCALS. Now, interpreting how close 2 songs are might be subjective, but I'm pretty sure there is a formula to follow.

Yeah it can't be completely subjective but there is an element of subjectivity involved. Im interested to look this up now. :)

Eck
 
Back
Top