What are the rules on using music which may be copyright for the Safety Animation?
I’ve been quite lazy in thinking up an idea of what do and one of my plans would require some sort of music to set the tone for what was happening.
I wana say I recall seeing something about how you weren’t allowed to use copyrighted music without like a ton of paperwork (Written permission from the authors, or whatnot), they may not even allow it at all.
I think every team made animation video I’ve ever seen at a FIRST event has been team made music for it.
It’s too bad too, there’s a lot of good music out there that I would just love to use for some of our animations. I wonder what the rules are on using public domain music (or songs with expired copyrights)?
Again, don’t quote me on it, as I’m not 100% sure these are the current rules. :o
Public domain is fair game. So mainly your stuck with classical music, but there are really cool pieces out there if you can get your hands on them.
As for copyrighted music, you just need a signed permission slip from the artist or his agent. Its not that hard. I have done this before. Most of the time if you can contact the artist, and tell them what you are doing, they are totally cool with it. Agents are somewhat iffy. DO NOT GO THROUGH THE RECORD COMPANIES!! They will screw you over, then demand $3,000.
There is also royalty free music out there that you can pay for the song then you can use it. Copyright free.
yarrggg…
that sounds like it could take a while. I think I’ll try to make something in Garage Band and use that. Maybe in another animation project I’ll try to use other sorts of music, but for now it looks like garage band might be the easiest option.
don’t quiote me on this, IANACL, but i think using copyrighted material would fall under fair use, because first animations are supposed to be educational
gauntletguy: read this, specifically parts 3 and 4. You’d have to decide for yourself, and that would only work if the competition rules allow it.
Seems to me that anything can be used as long as the terms of the license/copyright are met… whether it be something like a CC by-nc-sa license, or a standard record company deal (e.g. Moving Pictures album by Rush). If the copyright holder says it’s okay (whether by license or by permission), it should be fine.
Note that I can’t find anything other than this, so take that into consideration when deciding to apply the above paragraph.
edit: I forgot to note, you would have to comply with all terms, obviously, so if there’s a CC by-nc-sa license, you must attribute the work as specified, not use it for commercial purposes (fine for FIRST), and share it alike (e.g. post it online somewhere).
well you can’t use any copyrighted music but you are probally able to make your own music and whatever you really feel like around that base
Another option is to “buy” royalty-free music from a web site like http://www.shockwave-sound.com/
They have hundreds of different tunes you can buy for $15-$20 each. And their license terms & conditions page satisfied Autodesk on the last couple animation entries we sent.
i think the what i did is probably frowned upon, but what i did was i just googled Public Domain Techno Music (i was looking for dance music things) i eventually found a dance style Pachebel Cannon, which i liked. I assume that it was made by the person who posted it, and i assume that its public domain because it said public domain. There is a lot of music out there, and if its free and says public domain i will consider using it (if it’s good of course)
ohh and i guess here is my final animation
(i dont like it, one reason is that i procrastinated and ended up doing it in a week 
)
I like the FSM reference. It’s all good just for that.
Remember - you MUST get written permission from the song’s owner and send it along with your animation entry. Otherwise you will be disqualified.
Shoockwave sound has a “terms & conditions” document which we included with our entry. It satisfied the Autodesk judges. Perhap your Public Domain site has a similar document, or the band will give you written permission. If not, please don’t use the song!
ok well the site has music labeled as “copyright” “some rights reserved” and “public domain”. The site’s own definition of public domain is “Dedicator recognizes that, once placed in the public domain, the Work may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, and in any way, including by methods that have not yet been invented or conceived.”…
i took that as being public domain…
if my logic is wrong, well then i probably shouldn’t be using the site
I think that’s okay, as long as you have something in writing (even if it’s just a screen capture) stating the song is public domain.
Autodesk will require this as part of your entry.
Is it true that you can use up to 3 seconds of copyrighted music? We want to use music from the good the bad and the ugly, just the most famous part. If not, is it ok to recreate it ourselves using garage band or someone whistling it?
I do not believe that having only three seconds of copyrighted music is any different than having any other amount of copyrighted music. You want to play it safe and not use any copyrighted music unless you have the proper permission to do so.
But a GarageBand rip-off, oddly enough, has worked for us in the past and I’m sure it is entirely acceptable as long as it is noticeably different (slightly different pitch, faster/slower tempo, different instrument, etc).
If i were you guys, I would seriously consider asking some kids that are into music in your school or area to try to come up with some cool theme music that fits the theme of your animation. Than you can get some more people involved in the FIRST program at your school and not have them fully commit to the program.
I thought the three second rule applied only to cookies that fell on the floor…