Musicians/lawyers--cover songs that we recorded

Oh Haha · 03-06-2010, 04:38 PM

Looking for some help with what I think may be a problem.

On the Facebook site honoring a guitarist friend someone has been posted a couple of cover songs that we did for a demo. If one of the writers hears their song could they sue us?
I know that you are allowed to play them live in a bar situation but I'm not clear on recording them.

Are "The Babys" deceased by now?

What about "Honeymoon Suite"?

Thanks,

Gogar · 03-06-2010, 06:28 PM

Leave it up there unless someone asks you to take it down. It's highly unlikely you'll have a problem at all, but if so, someone would just contact you and ask you to remove it.

Oh Haha · 03-06-2010, 06:35 PM

Thanks Jeremy. We really didn't intend on these tapes being "out there".

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

Thanks Jeremy. We really didn't intend on these tapes being "out there".

Jeremy is correct, if you aren't selling them, spreading them, you should be OK..

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

Leave it up there unless someone asks you to take it down. It's highly unlikely you'll have a problem at all, but if so, someone would just contact you and ask you to remove it.

I have a bunch of cover songs (around 80 or 90 of them) done solo acoustic up on youtube. I got a cease-and-desist notification and youtube pulled the video for only one of them...

Boys of Summer

Don Henley and his music publishing company evidently fear that my cover (which was clearly identified as being his song) is a threat.

Boo!

dondarnell · 03-06-2010, 08:47 PM

Its a copyright violation to play a song in bar and not pay royalties (as you mention). But, I would guess the barowner would have a BMI account for performers. Copyrights are good for the life of the artist plus 15 years.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

I have a bunch of cover songs (around 80 or 90 of them) done solo acoustic up on youtube. I got a cease-and-desist notification and youtube pulled the video for only one of them...

Boys of Summer

Don Henley and his music publishing company evidently fear that my cover (which was clearly identified as being his song) is a threat.

Boo!

Of course it was a threat, artist hate it when someone else does a better job on their song...

Quote:

Its a copyright violation to play a song in bar and not pay royalties (as you mention). But, I would guess the barowner would have a BMI account for performers.

True, generally the bar, DJs buy the rights for the music they play though. BMI likes to go for the square footage of clubs and juke boxes & sat TVs are licensed through the vender.