urbex Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Basically, if you can't buy the song, you're free to use it. This is completely incorrect. I really don't feel like getting into the definitions of rights and distinctions of them. To counter the above statement, however, simply consider this: If a song is recorded and ready for distribution in January, but the label decides not to release it until July it is NOT free to use or redistribute from January to June. This also applies to items that may have been discontinued or sold out. Just because you can not buy a copy of it you do not have the right to use or distribute it. Even songs like "Happy Birthday to You" are copyrighted and would get you into trouble if you recorded it for use in a public mod (story here). The best rule of thumb to follow is that unless it is explicitly stated a song (or other copyrighted material) is available for public use by its owner or you're savvy to the copyright laws and all their loopholes enough to do the math from publication dates, it is most likely not safe to distribute it. Having said that, if you can prove you've altered something 20% or more, it is a new creation and the property of the person who changed it - in which case you'd be wise to document how and when you did such a thing unless someone discovers your work and hires a lawyer to defend THEIR right to it since you can't prove it's yours. Such cases have come up and people have been fined and forced to pay back royalties in restitution on their own creations because they didn't think to protect them. Yes, these laws can also apply to mods, textures, meshes and so on.Well obviously leaks aren't free to distribute, but if I go to lupe fiasco's site and download his promotional mixtape, I'm free to distribute it even though it's not stated that it's copyright free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quetzlsacatanango Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Completely untrue unless you ask the guy and he gives you permission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigand231 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Well obviously leaks aren't free to distribute, but if I go to lupe fiasco's site and download his promotional mixtape, I'm free to distribute it even though it's not stated that it's copyright free. Quite the contrary, this is the footer from the website your mention:© 2011 ATLANTIC RECORDS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | ATLANTIC PRIVACY POLICY | ATLANTIC TERMS OF SERVICE | REPORT AN ISSUE | CONTACT US The phrase "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED" means just that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Well obviously leaks aren't free to distribute, but if I go to lupe fiasco's site and download his promotional mixtape, I'm free to distribute it even though it's not stated that it's copyright free. Quite the contrary, this is the footer from the website your mention:© 2011 ATLANTIC RECORDS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | ATLANTIC PRIVACY POLICY | ATLANTIC TERMS OF SERVICE | REPORT AN ISSUE | CONTACT US The phrase "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED" means just that.That's referring to the content hosted on it's site. Those are only his two latest singles which are being marketed. He wasn't even signed by Atlantic when he released his other two mixtapes. The bottom line is, that when an artist gets on twitter, post a link to his latest mixtape, and encourages people to download it for free, it's free to distribute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigand231 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 The bottom line is, that when an artist gets on twitter, post a link to his latest mixtape, and encourages people to download it for free, it's free to distribute. You're going to have to provide a verifiable link to him making such a statement if you want me to believe such a claim. If I write a mod, post it, and encourage people to download it, you are still not free to distribute it unless I give you permission to. "professional" assets are no different. If you wanted to use something like that in a mod, you could share the same link with others and give instructions on how to convert it to be used in a mod. You do not have the right to distribute someone else's assets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floatsup Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 (edited) Yeah I just posted in another thread about this. Someone brought up music they wanted in a mod. For private use I'll rip off whatever I want. Sorry but true. But fot public distribution, you better pay close attentin to the bat symbol http://www.core.org.cn/NR/rdonlyres/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/6-912January--IAP--2006/F7386FB9-7E67-48FF-AC9B-6B986F14A357/0/chp_copyrigt_symjpg.jpg Why there it is now. Thats really a no chitter. I remember getting my cease and deassist letter when Metallica got up the arse of Napster. Those were the days. I would really be kewl with copyright laws though. Seriously, the way there written now, you could actually go to jail, cause your a threat to national security. So much for your rights. Anyway for listening pleasure. The old Metallicops.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb_jLAisPzk Edited February 26, 2011 by Floatsup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigand231 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 That's about the scope of it. If the Nexus doesn't police it themselves THEY get the cease and desist order, so it's not hard to understand the policy they employ and enforce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astymma Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Well obviously leaks aren't free to distribute, but if I go to lupe fiasco's site and download his promotional mixtape, I'm free to distribute it even though it's not stated that it's copyright free. Quite the contrary, this is the footer from the website your mention:© 2011 ATLANTIC RECORDS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | ATLANTIC PRIVACY POLICY | ATLANTIC TERMS OF SERVICE | REPORT AN ISSUE | CONTACT US The phrase "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED" means just that.That's referring to the content hosted on it's site. Those are only his two latest singles which are being marketed. He wasn't even signed by Atlantic when he released his other two mixtapes. The bottom line is, that when an artist gets on twitter, post a link to his latest mixtape, and encourages people to download it for free, it's free to distribute. You appear to hold the common, but mistaken, viewpoint that you are granted rights unless explicitly forbidden... the opposite is true. You are denied all rights unless explicitly granted. And by the way, an artist saying this is free to download has NOT granted you the right of distribution, it is still denied... your "bottom line" is incorrect. The rights of use and distribution are separate rights under copyright law and need to be explicitly granted. Also, a copyright notice on a website applies to ALL content on that website unless an explicit copyright notice for an individual piece of content is visible. Even if copyright notices are not visible, copyright still applies to content and your rights are still denied unless explicitly granted. Now there are exceptions to copyright law such as fair use, satire, quotations, public domain, copyright expiration and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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