Slasher

[smj]

Hiya all,

Anybody know the legal situation regarding using existing songs/scores in films? I am currently making a humorous horror movie, Slasher, and the soundtrack is currently made up of an amalgam of other music sources.

If I am not selling the movie at all, is this creakingly legal? Obviously, if I ever try to promote the movie, I will get somebody to write a proper score for it. But, then, what about using songs?

Anyway, more details can be found on my website, at http://www.uea.ac.uk/~u9930965/index.html

We've just gone into production, so it's all rather exciting right now.

[miker]

Certainly in the UK even amateurs are supposed to get license for clearance to use copyrighted music, from the MCPP or whatever they're called.

I say use your discretion. If a major distributor picked up your film, they would make sure all copyright was cleared etc, they'd probably relieve you of your copyright too!!

Technically I think it's illegal to use copyrighted material if you are profiting or broadcasting/showing to an audience.

Also, I think, in the UK certain copyrights expire after 50 years.

E&OE, I aint no legal person!!