Your classic case of copyright

[untamed_aggression]

I decided to go back and recut Running Like Mad to remove the music so I could get it scored properly.

I was hoping to have the score based on Puccini's Humming Chorus, which I used in the temp, but I don't know what kind of copyright issues that would bring up. The bloke's been dead over 75 years, I know this much.

Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. had a score inspired by Madame Butterfly and it acknowledges this in the credits, is this all I'd need to do?

[pauldrystonewall]

if the music is over 75r years old, then the only problem you have is performance copyright.

you can't use a piece of music recorded by an orchestra without more permission/royalty problems.

however, you can just get a composer to write you something in the style you need, that is a way around it...and most composers should be able to replicate the feel of a piece of music quite accurately.

or you could get someone to get hold of a midi file of the music you want, and then run it through some software with a decent sound bank.

[untamed_aggression]

Excellent...

As I said, I intend to find a composer to incorporate the piece into a score, because it really fits the tone of the flick, so I won't be using any pre-recorded tracks or anything.

Incidentally, anyone heard of some software called Soundtrack or something like that. A mate downloaded and, apparently, and I quote, "You just bang loops on and it syncs them all up...As in classical music loops or whatever you want."

[Actor]

This is a question that can really only be answered by a lawyer, particularly because each country has its own copyright laws. However, in most of the world copyright lasts 95 years (not 75) after the artist's death. He died in 1924 so by that reckoning his copyrights expire in 2019.

[miker]

to avoid all copyright issues, best to collaborate with a composer or muso. or take the royalty free route.

eg smartsound
http://www.smartsound.com/products/smartsound.html

i used smartsound which ships with premiere 6.5 to do a piece of music for my short ad-astra. more than once, the music has been complimented. if only they knew ... !

[twister!]

Originally posted by pauldrystonewall:
if the music is over 75r years old, then the only problem you have is performance copyright. you can't use a piece of music recorded by an orchestra without more permission/royalty problems.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">With Classical music - as there are so many versions/performaces of these pieces by so many different orchestras - how would anyone know which version/performace you had used? Could they find out???

I agree that using a composer is the ideal but sometimes those classic pieces just can't be beat.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 18, 2003 06:54 AM: Message edited by: Justin M. ]</font>

[wahiba]

I believe in most of the world copyright is up to 70 years after the death of the author. Never heard of the 95 year rule.

If the music score is exactly the same one as created by the original author then any copyright is purely related to the source it is in. So, you should not photocopy the printed work, but transcribe the music to your own source. Probably possible now using computer technology, it might even play it for you.

[pauldrystonewall]

justin...if you hear a song by your favourite band..you recognise them right?

you recognise the vocals..the guitar style?

so what makes you think you can't recognise a particular violinist?..or even a complete orchestra?

believe me, people who know classical music (and i am not claiming to be one of them) will have absolutely no trouble spotting who is playing, and probably more often or not they would even be able to tell you the conductors name!!

[twister!]

Mmm - you're probably right about that, Paul - *****cks. Going to use it anyway though - it fits perfectly.

Out of interest, do you have any knowledge about how much performance rights for classical music is?

Eightmovies what do you mean about 'transcribing the music to your own source'? Please expand.

[pauldrystonewall]

i don't really know what i am talking about to be honest...there are so many different kinds of licenses for music, broadcasting and including music in films....

i would spend a bit of time on google and try to find a bit more info if i was you.