Royalties for guitar arrangements?

[LuckyMovie]

Hey everyone, new to the forum here. I have a question regarding copyright issues for the soundtrack to my potential feature film. I had some music in mind (from video games, japanese anime), and was wondering if I had to pay royalties if I included guitar arrangements of these pieces in the film? I would play and record these myself.

I'm aware that "covers" are allowed, if the film doesn't make any profit (I'm hoping it'll hit the festival circuit) - but the guitar arrangements aren't arranged by the original composer/producer, so is it still recognized as a "cover"?

Thanks in advance, everyone!

 

[Blaine]

Hey everyone, new to the forum here. I have a question regarding copyright issues for the soundtrack to my potential feature film. I had some music in mind (from video games, japanese anime), and was wondering if I had to pay royalties if I included guitar arrangements of these pieces in the film? I would play and record these myself.

I'm aware that "covers" are allowed, if the film doesn't make any profit (I'm hoping it'll hit the festival circuit) - but the guitar arrangements aren't arranged by the original composer/producer, so is it still recognized as a "cover"?

Thanks in advance, everyone!

You still may have to pay something to the music publisher.

 

[Texanite]

I'm aware that "covers" are allowed, if the film doesn't make any profit

What do you mean by covers being allowed? You can't legally do a cover of somebody elses song and put it into your film without getting the rights. It doesn't matter if your film makes any profit or not, you still need permission.

 

[pranic]

You may be able to get around this issue if your composition doess't use all the same notes, and is only similar in style to the original piece of music. I've talked with composers who are typically given a song and told to make something very similar -- but end up changing every fourth note, or something to that effect....

Otherwise, you would still need to get, I believe, the master use license from the music publisher.

 

[kwoff]

You need to talk to a copyright lawyer about your specific situation. There is no automatic exception to licensing requirements for covers or for changing every fourth note, or something to that effect.

 

[LuckyMovie]

What do you mean by covers being allowed? You can't legally do a cover of somebody elses song and put it into your film without getting the rights. It doesn't matter if your film makes any profit or not, you still need permission.

Hm, I guess I don't have my facts straight. I recalled from somewhere that as long as you weren't making any money performing the song, or having it in a film, it was okay to cover it. I guess I was wrong.

And about changing it up while keeping to the original style, I was thinking the same - the arrangements are a little jazzed up for the acoustic guitar, but for people who know the song, they'd recognize it. They're from pretty popular games.

Thanks everyone for responding! Any more feedback/experience on the subject is much appreciated.