   Cheesy music for my "1Week1Button entry"
  I'm entering this contest with a 2D side-scroller and it would be enhanced by some cheesy MIDI music. I don't know if MIDI has the same copyright issues as real music but if anyone has an example of something reasonably happy and appropriate I'd be glad to see it.I'll use it only in this game and give you full credit (although maybe for MIDI you'd prefer I didn't name you as the composer?!)   
  Hi!I'm a composer from Brazil, and I work with MIDI too (-:I'm at your disposal.some of my music: www.tramavirtual.com.br/rortchakmy msn: methropoly@hotmail.comBye!   ;Quote:Original post by d000hgI'm entering this contest with a 2D side-scroller and it would be enhanced by some cheesy MIDI music. I don't know if MIDI has the same copyright issues as real music but if anyone has an example of something reasonably happy and appropriate I'd be glad to see it.I'll use it only in this game and give you full credit (although maybe for MIDI you'd prefer I didn't name you as the composer?!)Hey, MIDI's are cool!  Unfortunately, though, they do have the same copyright issues.  It's pretty sad, actually.  If you take a piece of classical music (public domain), and "convert" it to MIDI (copy the music into the computer and then add instrument definitions) you can claim it as your own.Anyway, I'm glad you're taking the time to polish of your game with some music.  I really never even considered putting sound in mine :(.   ;Quote:Original post by cowsarenotevil It's pretty sad, actually.  If you take a piece of classical music (public domain), and "convert" it to MIDI (copy the music into the computer and then add instrument definitions) you can claim it as your own.Is that right? ;Quote:Original post by Rain 7Is that right?I'm almost certain that it has the same kind of laws controlling it as a recording or performance.   ;Quote:Original post by cowsarenotevilAnyway, I'm glad you're taking the time to polish of your game with some music.  I really never even considered putting sound in mine :(.I have libraries for DSound (.wav), DMusic (.midi) & DShow (.mp3) from other projects which just drop in. The more projects I do, the more glad I am I took the time to design as much as possible for reuse!;  If the person that holds the copyright to a song dies you can use it in anyway you want after X many years of his death. If he/she doesnt die you can still use a song after something like 80 years or maybe its 100 years.So, If you take a piece of classical music it doesnt matter what you do with it.Taking a recording of a live concert that has classical music and then selling that CD would cause copyright issues but other then that you can do as you please with classical/old/dead guys music.;Quote:Original post by jeffie7If the person that holds the copyright to a song dies you can use it in anyway you want after X many years of his death. If he/she doesnt die you can still use a song after something like 80 years or maybe its 100 years.Careful here.  It's not always that simple.  I believe some publishers renew/extend copyrights.Quote:So, If you take a piece of classical music it doesnt matter what you do with it.Taking a recording of a live concert that has classical music and then selling that CD would cause copyright issues but other then that you can do as you please with classical/old/dead guys music.The real point being that there are two copyrights -- one for the recording (audio, MIDI, etc.) and another for the composition itself.  Thus you can have a copyrighted recording of a public domain (uncopyrighted) composition.  For example, Beethoven's 9th Symphony is in the public domain.  However, any recording I purchase or download of Beethoven's 9th is very much under copyright.  The copyright holder doesn't own Beethoven's 9th, but she does own that particular recording of it.  Think of it like a photograph.  If you take a photo of Eiffel tower, you don't own the Eiffel tower, but you can own that photo of it.For classical works, if there is a Dover score in the bookstore, the composition is probably public domain.  However, some early 20th century composers' scores are still under copyright (i.e. Copland, Sibelius).Also be careful about assuming that something is public domain just because there is no copyright notice on it. Ownership of a work, recording, etc, is assumed to be held by the creator until it expires or is transferred to someone else.  (If you work for a company, chances are transfer of ownership to the company is included in your work agreement.)Copyright is an often misunderstood area, and there is a lot of bad info floating around out there.  Best bet is to do some reading from reference books on the subject and consult a lawyer if you are planning on doing anything commercial.  If not, at best you could end up on the wrong end of a cease and desist order, at worst a lawsuit.   ;  As I stated before, if you were to record a live concert and reuse it you would have issues with the copy right.as far as the rest.(why isnt there a quote button?)QUOTE# For works created after January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. In the case of a joint work, copyright lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author's death. For anonymous and pseudonymous works and works made for hire, copyright lasts 95 years from the year of first publication or 120 years from the year of creation, whichever ends first.# For works created but not published or registered before January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years, but it will not expire earlier than December 31, 2002. If the work is published before December 31, 2002, copyright will not expire before December 31, 2047.# For pre-1978 works still in their original or renewal term of copyright, copyright is extended to 95 years from the date that copyright was originally secured.END QUOTE   ;  you must have missed it: 