Re: A Legal Way to Steal ideas??

[sgs4u]

Quote:I'm not sure if you meant to say that "real songwriters DO steal other's ideas", but if you did, I would have to vehemently disagree.H When pro songwriters write great lyric hooks(you know the cool turns on phrases, (so prevalent in country music), they guard them like gold. A turn on a phrase is an idea, and they DO get stolen if someone gets it recorded and released before the original writer gets something demoed and released. Because you can't copyright an idea. Casey will know the necessary details as far as how much of a melody or lyric can be used to create a new song. You seem to know SO much about these details, help us out here, will ya. Your lawyers have to prove 2 things I think. That the new version's writer, had the opportunity to listen to the original, and that there was intent. Am I right? But this whole thread is a little redundant to me. There are cases in point for and against stealing. Lawyers win again. There are only 12 notes. Only so many ways you can put them together. If you worry about who's stealing your songs, you can hide them under the bed, like Ed said. There is no reason to worry if you write, because you will write so many songs. I would be very surprised if any of us newbies without a lotta clout, could ever make a million $ from one song. You climb one rung of the ladder at a time. As far as listening to anyone else's sites to come up with ideas, is that really different from listening to the radio? I would suggest it's the best site of all, especially if you're trying to write hits. And if you think creative people have the ability to never allow other songs to influence what they write, I can't see how that could even be possible. How could anyone BLOCK out music they like? Most of us are creative people/writers and music lovers. We write songs because we love music. Who would bother to write songs without loving music? And if you love music, it's because you've listened to a fair amount. Inevitably, listening to anyone's else's music influences your life, and therefore your creativity. We all learn to play and write, usually by woodshedding great recordings and lyrics. Is that different from stealing? But by all means, strive to be as different OR "in the box" as you feel works for you. You get no judgments from me on that subject. Focus on whether you are better than you were yesterday.steve

[horacejesse]

We all know people do not steal.But as a matter of fact there is no seven note rule, that being an urban myth. I can tell you this: the whole foundation of any case must be ACCESS. Having your tunes on MySpace or somewhere similar is not enough. Number 1 on Broadjam is not even enough. Make your song a hit, that is the best protectionLearn more than you ever wanted to at: http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/law ... elist.html

[jeffe]

The boundaries of infringement are like rubber. Go take a look at this long winded page. There's some food for thought.http://www.law.berkeley.edu/journals/bt ... .html#B108

[Casey H]

Quote: Casey will know the necessary details as far as how much of a melody or lyric can be used to create a new song. You seem to know SO much about these details, help us out here, will ya. Your lawyers have to prove 2 things I think. That the new version's writer, had the opportunity to listen to the original, and that there was intent. Am I right? steve Whoa! Please DO NOT say that! This is something I know very little (virtually nothing) about! I have absolutely no experience with plagiarism/copyright infingement issues and (as you know) I am not an attorney. My other posts were tips related to things I have had exposure to and full of disclaimers.Thanks,Casey

[stanoliva]

Hi,I find this very interesting, and I think most songwriters are too egotistical (in a good way) to bother consciouslyripping off another writer. But... things have a way of climbing into our head and coming out later on down the road.Look a George Harrison My sweet Lord / He's so fine.It does happen . In Country music for example note values save a few songs from plagiarism. taking the last note and speaking it not singing etc. A hook is a hook. I think there is a number of notes 6 or 8 I don't remember that is the cutoff.Samples are a perfect example of accepatable plagiarism. Notice how many listings require specifically -no uncleared samples. I think we are all saying the same thing.... guard a good idea till it is finished and at least on someones tableand copyright!cool subject.stan.