Copyright, Permission, Public Domain and You

[ScarletSky]

I've asked for permission personally by a few artists who do things like techno and dubstep, to use their work (as a whole or individual tracks) for reproduction (for stepfilling and the like). They have granted me permission to due so on the premise that I credit them, which is no big deal and is easy with the .sm, .dwi file's format. But how would this work if I submitted a finished stepfile using their music, and credited them. Do I need to include the statement saying that or what?

[jimerax]

- report it in permission thread, hopefully with proofs (e-mail screenshot, etc).
- write the song artist's name in the dwi.

Those are the only things you need to do.
If your files are accepted, those songs will be automatically credited when they are released in the game.

[GreenTea767]

What about Creative Commons licenses? Do I still need permission from the author?

[MikeShinoda12345]

this may sound like a nooby question, but do we still need express permission from the artist if the music was put out for digital download and is impossible to actually buy?

[jimerax]

Originally Posted by GreenTea767

What about Creative Commons licenses? Do I still need permission from the author?

Basically we can use CC licensed songs without getting (further) author's permissions, since FFR is a free game and author's names are displayed.

When you submit a file of CC licensed songs, either post about it in permission thread, or put a txt file about the permission/license in your file

Originally Posted by MikeShinoda12345

this may sound like a nooby question, but do we still need express permission from the artist if the music was put out for digital download and is impossible to actually buy?

I don't fully understand the intention of this question, but basically we need to get permission for any songs, and express them.

[devonin]

The ability to download the song for free doesn't give permission to use that songin your own works. You'd need permission.

[bmah]

A song can be used if:
- permission was directly obtained from the artist
- the artist stated permission information on his/her webpage
- if it is CC licensed (search CC license for more info...there are various licenses) / is within public domain (but be careful about classical songs on public domain regarding performances [e.g. who performed?] and the date of the artist's death)

If a song is downloadable, do they meet any of the above requirements?

[VisD]

OK I have a few situations here, and I want to know for which of them we are permitted to use the song to step:

1. The song is an instrumental arrangement (not remix) of a preexisting song. The arrangement was originally written and performed by an artist whom we have permission for, but we do not have permission for the composer of the original song.

2. The song is a cover of a preexisting song, i.e. it is exactly the same song except performed by two different artists. We have permission for one of them, but not the other. Is it ok to use the cover from the artist we do have permission from?

3. Do we have permission to step any song that already has a file ingame (ie V2s of songs from artists whom we do not have blanket permission for)?

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by VisD

OK I have a few situations here, and I want to know for which of them we are permitted to use the song to step:

1. The song is an instrumental arrangement (not remix) of a preexisting song. The arrangement was originally written and performed by an artist whom we have permission for, but we do not have permission for the composer of the original song.

2. The song is a cover of a preexisting song, i.e. it is exactly the same song except performed by two different artists. We have permission for one of them, but not the other. Is it ok to use the cover from the artist we do have permission from?

3. Do we have permission to step any song that already has a file ingame (ie V2s of songs from artists whom we do not have blanket permission for)?

1. We have permission for the arrangement.

3. Yes.

Two however is a pretty sticky situation >_< I'll let those more informed answer that one lol

[nois-or-e]

I don't believe we would have permission for #2. For example, there is a song that I wanted to step from 'Making Orange Things'. But this album is a collaboration between Venetian Snares (of whom we have permission from), and Speedranch, (of whom we do not).

I am 90% certain that we'd need permission from both artists involved in making the song. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[bmah]

Correct on all accounts, hi19. If the mp3 you have right there was composed by two or more performers or composers, you need permission from all of them.

[VisD]

Wait that came out wrong. I meant that the song in question, say X, was written and first produced by A. Later on B does a cover of it and we have permission for B but not A. Are we allowed to step B's version of X?

[bmah]

Well then it's the same case as question #1. The answer is yes.

It's not that difficult. All you need to know is that you need to get permission from the composer of the song you have at hand - remix, original, whatever. You don't need to complicate things by thinking that permission extends to the original artist, unless the remixer says otherwise.

If it wasn't the case, we wouldn't have songs like Say It Right (Sanxion remix), which is originally a Nelly Furtado song.

Just think of it this way: get permission from the person who made the mp3 you have at hand. That's it. If there are any complications, the artist you've contacted will say otherwise. It's the responsibility of that artist to know whether his/her song is owned by him/herself or by some sort of record label or other artist.

[noname219]

I'm bumping this thread because I'm not sure where to draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable CC licenses. Basically, I'm certain that everything that is BY, ND, NC is safe to step but what about ShareAlike (SA) ?

This is an useful read :
http://mollykleinman.com/2008/08/29/...o-share-alike/

From what I gather :
We can use the song as long as it isn't cut/edited/transformed in any way. Otherwise, that would constitute a derivative work (adaptation) and FFR would have to carry the same CC license.
Basically, ND and SA = song cannot be transformed.

Am I right on this ?

[Wayward Vagabond]

Yep