Legal Question in Technology Law in Virginia
Copywritten Use of CDs
I need to know if I am allowed to use a copywritten song provided to me by my customer to use as a soundtrack on a slide-show DVD. If I aquire a copy of the proof of purchase off of the cd case and had the customer sign a statement that it is only for their personal use, could the copywritten songs be used since they own the cd?
-Ryan
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Copywritten Use of CDs
No, you are not licensed to copy or redistribute the musical performance on the CD, nor to publicly perform it or to synchronize it with the images on a DVD. You must obtain permission from the Harry Fox Agency (www.harryfox.com). It will be cheaper to use a performance of a copy band playing the same music, you would clear this through BMI or ASCAP. Or purchase pre-licensed production music from one of many sources available on the internet (Google search using terms such as [production music no royalties]).
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