Copyrights, Legal issues, etc

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Diffusion

Future Astrophysicist
I've heard a lot of mixtapes and underground CD's which have new artists rapping over another artists beats... for example, someone today rapping over a 2Pac or Dr.Dre beat... just wondering what kind of legal issues I would have to consider if I were to do this...
This is my situation: I want to record a few mixtapes that I can give away to friends, people at gigs, and at local record stores. I do rap music, and a few of the beats I have written songs to are old beats already used by famous artists (Juelz Santana, 2Pac, Nas, Jay-Z). I want to copyright my songs so that no one can steal my lyrics, but is this even possible when the beats have already been used? How do others use famous beats while still avoiding lawsuits etc? What would I have to do?
 
You would probably have to copyright the lyrics only, like a poem; not the entire compilation.

Can anyone else verify this?

Jason
 
what about the beats? Would I risk getting sued or anything?
 
Yes. You risk getting sued. You can register your lyrics with the copyright office, but cannot use someone elses music without permission - they own the copyrights.
 
so Im trying to figure out how so many people have got away with it before? So even if it was a non-profitable CD, I gave full credit to the artist and whoever produced the beat, it still isnt legal?
 
People get permission to use it. Sometimes it may be free, but most likely they are paying royalties or large fees to use the music.
 
dont git it twisted!! people do that shit all the time and are not paying -- wehn u r on the street . . . u r not payin major label dudes for their beats . . .

now if you are on a major label (there are plenty who are and just not "known" yet - the record label is paying the major label artist visa vie "tracked" record sales and publishing . . .

i thought u were going to pass it out (as in free) NOTHING matters if u r givin it away for free

my 2 cents
 
gullyjewelz said:
NOTHING matters if u r givin it away for free

my 2 cents
Click to expand...

Oh yes it does! Just try giving away any band's major riff/beats/lyrics away for free and see what happens... It doesn't matter if you give it away or make a profit, you're still infringing on material they've copyrighted.

:rolleyes:

Jason
 
"NOTHING matters if u r givin it away for free"

"Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.,..."

you can got to www.copyright.gov and it has all kinds of facts in regards to your question. As dude said above, however, just about everyone does this and unless you are on some major playing field, the chance that you would be sued to using industry beats is very slim to nothing, however, it is copyright infrengment whether its an entire beat or just a one second sample of anything, using it for demo purposes or to sell, its all the same, unless you have permission form the original owner.

P
 
now we see why its so good to have a lawyer

lol - its no laughing matter - but it is confusing . . .
 
be careful with the "big guy" "little guy" thing....didn't think these major companies would sue mom and pop for downloading music illegally either, but they are doing, bankrupting many families in the process.

legalities, you cannot use someone else's music or lyrics without their permission. plain and simple. you wanna go small time and risk it, that's your choice, but what if that small time turns into big time, and your small time hits are then scrutinized?
 
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