What are the legal issues of using acapellas in my tracks??? do i need to get permission from the original producer??

Thanx
AnDy

yes.. but normaly you've to ask the label and not the producer..

Lyrics, Sounds, Vocals -> You have to pay a clearance fee to the owner of the copyright. Usually the record company. But usually you can't just buy it from the record company, you have to have permission from the original author, the record company, and usually the publisher. But by contacting the record company or publisher you have done your part, they then arrange things with you, you ask if everything is set, sign the contract and hold them responsible if the original author blablabla. So you only have to contact one person in reality.

If you don't have this clearance, and you publish your song, it risks of being published (cool) but afterwards (if they catch you, they always do) every single copy has to be destroyed (sucks) AND you most probably have to pay a fee, ranging somewhere between 500$-10.000$ and more !

This applies to most of the western countries who signed the Berner Convention act. Also note that in every country there is a local law on this. So make sure you act accordingly to your local law (not theirs) too. (but really, if you pay a clearance fee, everything is set, unless if you live in Africa or Alaska etc.. they haven't signed anything on this)

So basically, pay the clearance fee or get seriously fvcked.

thanx for the info and fast reply!!

but that only applies if you plan to release it commercially right??

quote:

Originally posted by andy thanx for the info and fast reply!! but that only applies if you plan to release it commercially right??

I am sure this applies ALL the time. However they don't usually notice/care until you start making money (or someone does...).

___________________
"You can only drink 30 or 40 glasses of beer a day, no matter how rich you are." - Colonel Adolphus Busch

Major Johnson - February Progressive Mix

Download Other Mixes

There is a still alot of money that can be made by sidestepping legality and selling white labels.

A friend of mine press and release remixed accapalles (clearing about 1000 CAN dollars per track). Generally, we make a deal with sites like satellite records to sell the tracks for us on consignment.

..jay @ samplecity.net
Samplecity . net - For all your production needs

No, if you use it for charity and make absolutely no money with it there are exceptions. But that would be if you'd use a 'collage' of sounds to introduce something etc... Kinda like taking a paper, cutting little pieces from it, and making your Flyer for the charity with it.

But if you plan on releasing it, and not using it in your own bedroom, get the sample clearance. Sometimes you can get those for free or 50$. It's only if you go for madonna vocals (so spoiled stars) that you have to bring out serious cash.

If you want the exact info on the legal-non-commercial stuff I could reply tomorrow with the exact law, I have the text somewhere around for a work at college.