copyright question concerning song lyrics

[DrumminBoy]

I'm on yearbook staff at my highschool, and this year's theme is "The Time of Your Life" so we wanted to put the lyrics of Green Day's song "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" on the closing page. I called time warner, and jumped through a bunch of hoops trying to get info on using their lyrics, but all I could get was the voicemail of a guy saying it cost $200 to get any licensing but I think thats for using the actual song rather than the lyrics. Do we have to get written permission, or would it suffice if we just put "Copyright Time Warner/Green Day" at the bottom. its a non-profit publication, btw.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
I'm on yearbook staff at my highschool, and this year's theme is "The Time of Your Life" so we wanted to put the lyrics of Green Day's song "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" on the closing page. I called time warner, and jumped through a bunch of hoops trying to get info on using their lyrics, but all I could get was the voicemail of a guy saying it cost $200 to get any licensing but I think thats for using the actual song rather than the lyrics. Do we have to get written permission, or would it suffice if we just put "Copyright Time Warner/Green Day" at the bottom. its a non-profit publication, btw.

I would imagine you'd have to get permission and the $200 is most likely NOT for use of the actual song.

 

[DumbGuy]

We used the same song for our graduation. I don't even think they got permission to do that, LOL.

 

[mugs]

You do need to get permission, they may or may not charge based on your circumstances, but if you do it without permission, then it does not matter if it is not for profit or not. That NEVER makes a difference in whether something is a copyright violation.

 

[DrumminBoy]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
You do need to get permission, they may or may not charge based on your circumstances, but if you do it without permission, then it does not matter if it is not for profit or not. That NEVER makes a difference in whether something is a copyright violation.

just kinda makes me wonder, because there are tons of lyrics web sites out there, and most of them just have a disclaimer staying something along the lines of "All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners." I know for a fact these sites dont get permission and pay for each one of the songs on their sites, so I dont see why we shouldnt be able to have it in our yearbook. I guess it is different because it will be in print though...hmm

 

[bigalt]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
You do need to get permission, they may or may not charge based on your circumstances, but if you do it without permission, then it does not matter if it is not for profit or not. That NEVER makes a difference in whether something is a copyright violation.

just kinda makes me wonder, because there are tons of lyrics web sites out there, and most of them just have a disclaimer staying something along the lines of "All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners." I know for a fact these sites dont get permission and pay for each one of the songs on their sites, so I dont see why we shouldnt be able to have it in our yearbook. I guess it is different because it will be in print though...hmm

if the artists/label cared enough, they could tell the site not to post the lyrics anymore. if they refused, they could possibly take them to court. but it's pretty much up to the copyrighters discretion whether to pursue it or not. if you used it in a yearbook i seriously doubt anyone would catch wind of it, or go so far as to try to wring some money away from you guys, but in the worst likely scenario they'd make you recall the yearbooks.

 

[konichiwa]

in all reality, the odds that they are going to pursue legal action against a high school (student run) yearbook are pretty low.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I know schools have a special copyright system where you're allowed to photocopy parts of books and stuff, where it's normally not allowed. Maybe they have a special agreement with recordings?

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: konichiwa
in all reality, the odds that they are going to pursue legal action against a high school (student run) yearbook are pretty low.

I agree, just put them there and put "copyright blah blah blah (with all necessary info)" at the bottom of the page. The won't sue a high school for putting it in their yearbook. For one thing it isn't worth their time, and for another thing it's potentially bad press for them for going after high schoolers. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
You do need to get permission, they may or may not charge based on your circumstances, but if you do it without permission, then it does not matter if it is not for profit or not. That NEVER makes a difference in whether something is a copyright violation.

just kinda makes me wonder, because there are tons of lyrics web sites out there, and most of them just have a disclaimer staying something along the lines of "All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners." I know for a fact these sites dont get permission and pay for each one of the songs on their sites, so I dont see why we shouldnt be able to have it in our yearbook. I guess it is different because it will be in print though...hmm

It's not different - those websites are all violating the copyrights on those songs. There used to be one big lyrics site on the web, but it got shut down. Then a ton of little sites popped up, and I think the record labels decided it wasn't worth their effort to try to shut them all down.

There's no way any record label would SUE you over the use of their song in your yearbook, more likely your school administrators would not allow you to do it to prevent the slight possibility of being sued. You know, like if WHSLacrosseKid got pissed at your school and turned them in or something.

Edit: 10 Copyright Myths. I post this in every copyright-related thread, I guess nobody ever reads it.

 

[DrumminBoy]

Originally posted by: konichiwa
in all reality, the odds that they are going to pursue legal action against a high school (student run) yearbook are pretty low.

I know for a fact that nothing would ever come of it if we did decide to print it without consent, but my teacher is the type that does everything by the book, and she said the only way we could do it is if we got written permission.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: konichiwa
in all reality, the odds that they are going to pursue legal action against a high school (student run) yearbook are pretty low.

I know for a fact that nothing would ever come of it if we did decide to print it without consent, but my teacher is the type that does everything by the book, and she said the only way we could do it is if we got written permission.

So fabricate a letter giving yourself permission. 🙂

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
I know schools have a special copyright system where you're allowed to photocopy parts of books and stuff, where it's normally not allowed. Maybe they have a special agreement with recordings?

No schools don't have a "special copyright system". Photocopying portions of a work for discussion falls under the Fair Use principle.
See http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter9/index.html for more info. Edit 3 - You might also want to check out Chapter 7 which specifically states that coursepacks (copied sections of books that teachers may hand out/sell) were NOT covered by Fair Use. Teachers MUST get clearance to use sections of books for course materials.

Edit to clarify -
Posting the entire lyrics would NOT be considered Fair Use. Fair Use only convers portions of a text and only for discussion, commentary, parody, etc. If you did a parody of the song that would be considered Fair Use. Edit 2- However it should not be a deritive work. It must be a parody...

 

[Apathetic]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
You do need to get permission, they may or may not charge based on your circumstances, but if you do it without permission, then it does not matter if it is not for profit or not. That NEVER makes a difference in whether something is a copyright violation.

just kinda makes me wonder, because there are tons of lyrics web sites out there, and most of them just have a disclaimer staying something along the lines of "All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners." I know for a fact these sites dont get permission and pay for each one of the songs on their sites, so I dont see why we shouldnt be able to have it in our yearbook. I guess it is different because it will be in print though...hmm

It's not different - those websites are all violating the copyrights on those songs. There used to be one big lyrics site on the web, but it got shut down. Then a ton of little sites popped up, and I think the record labels decided it wasn't worth their effort to try to shut them all down.

There's no way any record label would SUE you over the use of their song in your yearbook, more likely your school administrators would not allow you to do it to prevent the slight possibility of being sued. You know, like if WHSLacrosseKid got pissed at your school and turned them in or something.

Edit: 10 Copyright Myths. I post this in every copyright-related thread, I guess nobody ever reads it.

Nice copyright site, by the way.

Dave

 

[alkemyst]

my bet is they won't take action....if anything this will cause people to buy the album (hopefully).....

However all you need is one prick to notice you and they can bring the checkbook of the company against you....look at the RIAA cases vs how many are actually stealing music.

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