Posting Covers

[UsefulIdi0t]

I wasnt sure where this should go so im just putting it here. I was wondering if it is legal for bands to post their covers of other bands on sites such as myspace or purevolume. I tried reading all the fine print about it but I couldnt figure out the answer. Do you need permission to post covers or is this one of those things were you arent supposed to do it but most bands wont give a crap and nothing will happen to you...hopefully.

[Jacob6293]

Are we allowed to post cover art for our own bands here?

[djs]

Are we allowed to post cover art for our own bands here?

He's talking about cover songs...playing someone else's song with your own twist on it.

TS: I don't really know, but I'd think that if you weren't making a profit off of it, then you should be fine. Depending on the band, you could actually email them and ask them.

[Knifeboy]

or is this one of those things were you arent supposed to do it but most bands wont give a crap and nothing will happen to you...hopefully.


That. Unless you make money off of it

[Jacob6293]

Oh ok sorry. I'm not trying to make a profit I was just wondering because I love to draw so I came up with a CD cover for my band, Life As We Know It. Look forward to seeing a thread about it, maybe!

[UsefulIdi0t]

Oh ok sorry. I'm not trying to make a profit I was just wondering because I love to draw so I came up with a CD cover for my band, Life As We Know It. Look forward to seeing a thread about it, maybe!

haha I was like what the crap is he talking about and re-read my post and realized how it might of sounded like cd covers.

So my band is thinking about posting a cover on myspace, do you guys think I should do it or not take the chances?

[Darth Sidious]

what band are you covering? And personally, I would put it up, but if requested to take it off, I'll of course do that.

[Knifeboy]

^^ Exactly, it's not like they can sue you before they ask you to take it off

[Vitriolic Rage]

I think soundclick get grouchyif you post a cover and don't have permission from the original artist or the record company.

I was going to post up my Darkthrone cover "En Hall Flesk Og Mjod", but couldn't be arsed going through a load of crap.

[Merkaba]

^^ Exactly, it's not like they can sue you before they ask you to take it off
Technically they could

I know soundclick doesnt agree with the covers issue. I posted a song called burn and I think they tried to cancel my account, I'm guessing because Usher's "Burn" song was out at the moment.

[SillyPuddyonIce]

Dont worry about it. As long as you arent making profit.

[Knifeboy]

Technically they could

Nah, they couldn't. Not if there's no money made

[Merkaba]

Sounds like youre sure...but I would have to say...

Are you sure?

[Moseph]

I wasnt sure where this should go so im just putting it here. I was wondering if it is legal for bands to post their covers of other bands on sites such as myspace or purevolume. I tried reading all the fine print about it but I couldnt figure out the answer. Do you need permission to post covers or is this one of those things were you arent supposed to do it but most bands wont give a crap and nothing will happen to you...hopefully.

Pretty much. The copyright owners have the option of allowing it under a "some rights reserved" copyright, but most commercially released material is protected with "all rights reserved" copyrights. This means the copyright holder has ultimate control over the material and any use of it other than its original intention (ie, purchasing and listening) is a possible grounds for a lawsuit. If you want people to hear your cover, then it's probably smarter to only distribute a recording of it (freely) to a small group of folks. I don't know if this makes it legal, but it has the benefits of being more difficult to track as well as giving a stronger support of the idea that you were using it as a means of self-education, which is sometimes protected by copyright laws.