Did you guys get any phone calls?

[Gun]

Today at school, i received a phone call from autodesk, saying that
they need to see the signed permission from the song writer, saying that
i can use the music for the animation. So i talked to my music teacher and
it turned out that after 25 years of the music's publication, the song becomes public domain, and since the music i used was classical which dates back to 1700, I was off the hook. So i called her and left her a message about the story, and she called me back saying that she was really sorry, and that she was going through a stack of the teams that violated the copyrighted materials. She told me that my animation is definitely going to be judged.

Any similar phone calls? anyone?

[Jeremy_Mc]

I'm not exactly sure that the public domain thing is true.

Well, for most music it is, yes. but some music is owned and maintained by a "society", board, or individuals that keep the copyrights up to date on these things. You might want to check on that.

If it's not THAT famous of a song or the composer is unknown, I wouldn't worry about it though.

*jeremy

[Joe Ross]

You are correct that "music" is not copyrighted any longer. However, you probably used a specific recording of that music, which is more then likely still under copyright. Unless you recorded the music yourself, or have permision from the person who recorded it, then you should not have used it.

See http://www.pdinfo.com/identify.htm and http://www.pdinfo.com/record.htm for more info.

It sounds like you dodged a bullet. Just remember next year.

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally posted by Jeremy_Mc
If it's not THAT famous of a song or the composer is unknown, I wouldn't worry about it though.

So it's OK to steal if the thing you're stealing isn't well known? Why should a famous composer/performer be entitled to more rights than a less famous one?

[Jeremy_Mc]

Originally posted by Dave Flowerday
So it's OK to steal if the thing you're stealing isn't well known? Why should a famous composer/performer be entitled to more rights than a less famous one?

Perhaps I worded that wrong. What I meant by that is if it's not a well known song/composer, it probably wasn't re-recorded or picked up by a beneficiary-type organization.

It's never OK to steal music of any kind, especially with intention to use it as/in your own work.

*jeremy

[Gun]

well said jeremy, you have a good point there, that's why we have the
25 year public domain thing, my music teacher is into record productions
and he really knows his stuff. And i think he is rite on this one.

[Soukup]

the public domain thing after 25 years is right. If you look at the recent disney court battle to kept mickey mouse and donald duck under copyright...the same kind of thing applies here. If it is after 25 years then it's free game...provided you used the version that was recorded 25 years ago...not the remix or newer recorded version, and you should be safe.

[RyanKM]

Unfortunately, 25 years is incorrect. The original copyright laws let the creator of a work have a copyright for 28 years. Over the past century Congress has expanded the length of time that a copyright is held. The current length of time is the life of the creator plus 70 years. Works for hire or anonymous works are protected for 95 or 120 years. All this is retroactive to all works that were still under copyright when the law was passed.

http://http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html

This is the reason that "Happy Birthday" is still copyright. Probably any recording you have is still copyright. It's just silly.

Ryan

[Tyler Olds]

you can also use any music with out permission as long as you play under 31 seconds of their music

[Koko Ed]

It's just better to avoid all the headaches and make your own music.

[Joe Ross]

Originally posted by Tyler Olds
you can also use any music with out permission as long as you play under 31 seconds of their music

Would you mind providing a link to this?

This doesn't work, though, for the animation competition, since Autodesk says that you must obtain permission. But still, I am interested.

Like Ed said, it's much easier if you just use your own music

[Tyler Olds]

As far as I know there is no link for it on FIRST, That is a copywright law that i have used. I used that last year, (this year our music was used on acid.)

[Joe Ross]

I meant a link to the copyright law that says that you may use music as long as it is less then 31 seconds.

and, as I stated in my previous post, I beleive that even if this is true, it is still illegal for the FIRST animation competition.

[Salik Syed]

Okay i got that call how should i get a written notice from LINKIN' PARK????????

pls help, i only used music no words this is really disappointing do u think i could edit the music and submit in time?

[matt111]

u have linkin park words at the end

if not sorry im on afirst hangover