[goletitout]

Does anyone know much about the legal status of playing/owning bootlegs like the ones that chris has played?

i've got a few from http://www.boomselection.info and http://www.bastardpop.co.uk and want to put them on my own site. are you allowed to distribute these via the web? any help appreciated!



peace,

goletitout[/url]

[Funky Drummer]

well, legaly and technicaly, no. That's just the normal copyright regulations, the same that governs music download sites on the net (those are technicaly illegal too).

As far as recording and broadcasting is concerned, if you're recording bootlegs that you will require an MCPS license for all tracks that you use (e.g. for the eminem vocal track and also the tv theme - or whatever - that you put underneath). Playout, either on TV, radio, whatever, comes under PRS control, basically paying out royalties on tracks you play.

Bootlegs are tricky ones because some artists don't mind, and some artists do. What Will (as the producer of the show) probably would have done for the bootlegs that chris played qould be to note down the seperate PRS details. For example, if Chris played the piano mix (Marshall's Been Snookered) for 30 seconds, he would note down all the copyright owner, composer details, etc, for the eminem track for 30 seconds PLUS the copyright details for the instrumental used on it ("Black & White Rag", composer, etc, etc). They'd then be payed as if seperate air-plays.

Hope that makes sense, typed it all in a bit of a rush.

Rich~

[goletitout]

>>probably would have done

aye- there lies the rub...

>>They'd then be payed as if seperate air-plays.

so its in effect more expensive to play a bootleg (as you are paying for more than one tune?)

what about the creator of the bootleg? i take it they get no form of credit apart from underground kudos?

so where exactly would sites like http://www.bastardpop.co.uk stand from a legal point of view?

[Funky Drummer]

well, if you were to register you work (mcps license) then you would get some royalties to. For example, if you were to do an eminem bootleg with the Big Borhter theme music, you would edit your "piece" note down all the details on the relevant forms (which would include compser, title, duration of audio used, etc), then that would be registered as yours (of course you have to pay for your MCPS license). Then when it was played (obviously you'd send it in making them aware that it had been mcps registered), you would get some (although for one small air-play, nit'd be next to nothing) royalties.

Rich~

[TJD]

hey, the bastardpop.co.uk forum has only 2 mambers, and i was the second.

[goletitout]

oh yeah- you don't need to sign up to post though... maybe that's why? lovely site though.

[TJD]

thats not the point. this site has only just become a 'register-to-post' board, people should register, that way stuff like PM'S can happen.

[Benjoo]

isnt the whole point in bootlegs is that they are illeagal and should be distributed freely, maybe not just a thought

[Funky Drummer]

yeah, think you've got it there, but of course with broadcast it has to be done all above board.

[jc]

All that paperwork is a pain in the arse, I'll bet. I haven't even bothered contacting either MCPS or PRS to check my station's status yet. - jc

[goletitout]

isnt the whole point in bootlegs is that they are illeagal and should be distributed freely, maybe not just a thought

yeah- i thought it was all or nothing! surely you can't start disecting and paying for the bits of a bootleg that you recognise... what if there is some rare sample that no one recognises and isn't listed... if the broadcaster misses this royalty payment for that section of the tune are they then breaking the law themselves? sounds like a fat can of worms to me...

[Funky Drummer]

All that paperwork is a pain in the arse, I'll bet. I haven't even bothered contacting either MCPS or PRS to check my station's status yet. - jc

Nah, it's all fairlly simple. Looks confusing as hell, but as long as you remember to only think about the bits that concern YOU, then you're fine. THe forms look really complicatred, but they're not.

sounds like a fat can of worms to me...

Yeah, it is. As far as the "unknown sound samples" as concerned, if you don't know what they are then you can't record their details. As long as you give some sort of attempt to find out what they are, but if you really can't then it's tough luck, you play the tune and don't note down that piece of audio. Should any problems arise from that then I'm sure it would all be understood once explained.

Rich~