Let's Talk About copyright issues

[DangerousDave]

I am looking to get a mechanical license from Sony ATV (I know, I know) for a remix I did, and I was looking for some advice on how to go about this.

Basically, I have the track pretty much wrapped up, but I used an acapella that was stripped from an mp3, so it has some transients, and it is ILLEGAL. Should I dare send the track with the illegal content to the Sony people, just to give them an idea on what I am going for, if i suck, etc. Or do I simply inquire about it, and they will tell me to send a sample of the song. Or will they ask for other work I have done, not relevant to this particular remix???

Basically I have never done this before, and even though this is a longshot, I was still looking to get some general advice on the issue. I feel like this is good information to at least know HOW to go about this stuff. Anyways, all help is appreciated. Thanks gents...

[contakt321]

Do you need the clearance? Is a label releasing the record? Do you realistically expect to sell 10-20,000+?

If the answer to any of these is no, you may consider not clearing it.

[3dot...]

yeah.. the label releasing it should handle samples/copyright issues before...
they should have enough experience,,
otherwise if it's not going to sell or make any $.. nobody will care.. especially not Sony..

[DangerousDave]

Cool, thanks for the replies.

I will likely NOT sell very many, haha, but I was thinking of distributing through Interscope, who ( I assume) would want it cleared. They are the record company who released the track, but they are not the Publishing company (Sony is...) which if I am not mistaken, is who I need to contact about clearance. Thanks again for the help

[contakt321]

Cool, thanks for the replies.

I will likely NOT sell very many, haha, but I was thinking of distributing through Interscope, who ( I assume) would want it cleared. They are the record company who released the track, but they are not the Publishing company (Sony is...) which if I am not mistaken, is who I need to contact about clearance. Thanks again for the help

Not in any jerky way - do you have a deal w/ Interscope? B/c it's more about "they were thinking of distributing you", not the other way around.

[DangerousDave]

yea yea, no offence taken. They will distribute anyone, for a small fee. I didn't mean in like a "record label" sorta way, just as a way to self promote.

[Ben_Binary]

If Sony is publishing it then it is a mute point eh ?

[contakt321]

I would sign the contract saying that there are no samples (ie: lie) and just roll the dice. If you arent gonna sell a ton it's just not worth the hassle or money. It's likely that a small release will never be heard by a Sony lawyer.

[DangerousDave]

Sony isn't publishing my remix, they are the publisher of the original, if that's what you were getting at.

[contakt321]

I am not. I am getting at your record selling less than 10k units most likely.

[DangerousDave]

Alright, cool, thanks for the heads up

But what I don't get is that, if I am trying to get distribution by the SAME label that released the original, arent they gonna say, well wtf, obviously this uses an illegal sample since they are the ones who released it in the first place?

[contakt321]

Do you really think someone making damn near nothing a year is going to know wether you sampled a song from one of the millions of records they received?

Nah...

Don't sweat.

[DangerousDave]

Haha ok ok sheesh

[timothyallan]

edit: whoops

[tw1nstates]

Fyi,

Having had a brief look at the Interscope digital page I reckon it's worth shopping around a bit as there are loads of better digital distribution deals that that Interscope one.