Re: [microsound] copyright issues

[Ian Andrews <i.andrews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

guiver benwrote:

> hello all,
> 
> er another post: i'm doing a sound installation for my
> art exhibition in january in london. i need to find
> out how formal the copyright thing is if i use, say,
> an autechre track in the sound installation (which
> would obviously be credited).
> 
> whats the copyright position? do i need to get some
> kind of special licence? or what? people play records
> in clubs and no-one gets busted-well i never did in a
> multitude of places that i'm pretty certain didn't pay
> $ to the Performing Rights Commision (uk).
> 
> anyway: i'd be grateful ofr any help and advice.
> 
> best
> 
> ben guiver 
> 
Dear Ben,

when incorporating copyright music into an artwork the issues become much
more complicated than a DJ set in a club.
If you were, say, making a film with an Autechre track as part, or as the
whole soundtrack you would be required to license the track. This would cost
you 100s of pounds (if not thousands).
But a sound installation presents even more problems. It seems to me that
since sound is the major element of the work, that the presentation of
someone else's music as a major part of your work would entail getting their
permission as well as a licence.
Crediting the artist is not enough and in fact could be seen as
appropriating the artists name as well as their work, ie. having a well
respected artist's work associated with yours increases the value and
prestige of your own work. This is why permission must be sought.

But this all depends on how the music is incorporated into the work. Is it
foreground or in the background? is it a sound installation as such, or do
you just mean playing music in the background while people look at
paintings, photographs, etc.?

And Ben (and others) please please trim your posts!

ian


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