Dealing with Copyrighted Music

floatingwoo

Hi, I have been approached by a client that is interested in creating an instructional app. teaching kids Ukulele. In the app she will be teaching classic Ukulele tunes like "Over the rainbow" etc. Anyone here have any experience dealing with copyrighted music in there apps? Dealt with BMI. Or know of a good site online to read up on questions like....

Determining who holds the copyright.
Finding terms of use info.
Proof of permission.

Just starting to research this...Thanks

Socks

@floatingwoo said:
Determining who holds the copyright.

The song rights are held by the song's publisher.

RabidParrot

@floatingwoo

I would think that the songs could be used under the Fair Use copyright law for educational purposes. At least in the US. I would do a little reasearch though.

Thunder_Child

I heard once "Happy Birthday" was one of the most "infringed" songs ever...

jamie_c

@Thunder_Child, it is! I saw a documentary about that once and that is why restaurant chains never sing actual happy birthday, they have to come up with their own version.

Socks

@jamie_c said:
Thunder_Child, it is! I saw a documentary about that once and that is why restaurant chains never sing actual happy birthday, they have to come up with their own version.

A lot of restaurant chains do this will all music not just Happy Birthday, they would rather have music produced for them rather than pay royalties as it's cheaper, Happy Birthday hasn't got some special status any more than a song by Katy Perry or Daft Punk, most smaller (non corporate chain) restaurant, bars and cafés simply pay a standard PRS/MCPS (UK) licence fee and play whatever they want, including Happy Birthday, McDonald's don't have to come up with their own version of Happy Birthday any more than they have to come up with their own version of Get Lucky by Daft Punk, they choose to do so because they would rather not pay for the music they use. $$

jamie_c

they choose to do so because they would rather not pay for the music they use. $$

Agreed