Quote:
Originally Posted by DawnsMinstrel
I don't know what to think jj. There must have been something Larry was doing that got him singled out. At this point I can't say because I don't think I've ever seen any of Larry's videos, and now they're gone. But I haven't been bothered.
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Tim and JIm,
Here is a little bit on the subject matter of covers of copyrighted materials (in public venues in particular). This is from a Yahoo site and is quite interestig.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...6001912AAgZERN
The second link is from ASCAP that pretty much confirms the answer given by the person on the first link:
http://www.ascap.com/licensing/licensingfaq.html
Note:
It is not just a copyright issue with "youtube" covers. It is a performance rights issue just like any other public venue that plays covers of copyrighted material.
My guess (certainly unofficial as I am sure not a lawyer) of how this may work out is that it is likely that Youtube will start charging a fee for people to post songs on youtube that are not originals (maybe yearly unless they feel their sponsors pay them enough to cover it) to compensate for royalties that what they will have to pay to performance rights societies such as ASCAP and BMI. The societeis will likely use a similar formula that they use with clubs and restraunts and other places that play public performances of copyrighted (cover) material to pay the publishers and/or songwriters.
It is an interesting issue and probably still evolving since the youtube phenomenon is still new.
In summary, Youtube has made it very clear in their policy that you cannot post copyrighted materials without permisson of the copyright holder (and they don't differentiate between "for financial gain" or not). see this link from their site:
http://www.youtube.com/t/howto_copyright
As to why Youtube shuts down certain channels or removes certain songs by warning folks none of us can say. Perhaps they just have not gotten to everyone else.
That said (no matter if you agree with Youtube's policy legally or morally) I would not post a cover song on there without persmisson of the copyright holder. It is risky. If you recall the whole NAPSTER thing, regular folks were sued and made examples of. Youtube can point to their written policy and say all the cover performers were warned. They have big time lawyers to defend them (the average person does not).
Hopefully Youtube will work something out with the performance societies in the near future and everyone will work out a nice arrangment, just like when your local resturant plays karaoke music and the patrons sing it.
Fun subject
Bill