Copyright on you tube

[trus]

Hi, I am sorry if this one does not belong here (admin's feel free to delete/move), but, ...
I have uploaded a few videos on youtube (Fur Elise, Beethoven and "the Heart asks pleasure first" M. Nyman ) and now it shows as "matched third party content". Basically, there are two names claiming copyright to the Nyman's piece and one - to Fur Elise. I have already got thier adverts floating on my videos..
So.. what it is about copyright when you perform somebody esle's piece on you tube? Didn't think anyone owns copyright to Fur Elise!? Thanks a lot for any comment (and sorry if the question is silly!?) !
Tonya

[sirpazhan]

If my memory serves me correctly, Fur Elise is 'Public Domain' due to copyright expiration - .  You can read up on it more here: https://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm


Your original content needs to be 'copyrighted' - only then can you be the sole owner.  

If you record yourself playing "Fur Elise" - you can copyright that recording (or a collection of recordings by you).  But you don't own the copyright to the 'Fur Elise' composition because its Public Domain.  

[oxy60]

I didn't know youtube was that vigilant.  Well I guess you've been shot down.

You would think that Chopin is in the public domain but Barry Manilow pays the Chopin Trust royalities.

[trus]

I was reading up on this thing last night ( I am sure I since confused myself even more!) and what it looks like is that.. if the piece has public domain, i.e. noone owns copyright for it, it's a different matter when you are broadcasting yourself playing that piece. I was reading a few posts on google, etc by some performers (professional ones!) who got their pieces on youtube snatched like this and someone esle's advert's put on their videos. May be it's a UK thing, I am not sure though!? I don't know what happens if you dispute it, as there is an option on you tube to either accept the copyright claim, either dispute, but apparently it's a lengthy process...?
what a crazy world we live in!

[oxy60]

Contact the UK's society of composers, artists and publishers where one goes to get licenses to use music in films, etc. I think they are located over near Soho.

[sirpazhan]

If the videos on youtube are copyrighted in the US. It technically should carry over to the UK market.  And Yes, it can be a lengthy process, and sometimes can be expensive if you get attorneys involved.  That's why you usually see large companies like Sony, or Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. etc shut down videos on youtube based on copyright infringement.  They have the muscle to pursue if necessary.

if you dispute through youtube,, the other parties have the right to contest. it may go smooth or it may escalate to legal matters if there's resistance.

But honestly, there's a line where 'damages' become a headline. In other words, if a film by Paramount Pictures get uploaded on youtube.. Paramount can sue/dispute for damages because you're preventing them from making money by uploading the film on youtube for everyone to watch free. It can become complicated to prove damages on an amateur video of someone playing Fur Elise.  So most people just let it go.

 

[talby]

@trus : if you search in the forums of pianoworld.com, you can find there a lot of information about your specific problem. According to what I read there you shouldn´t have any problems with Fur Elise concerning any copyright infringement. You are just one victim more of the ridiculous unpersonal robot scanning all uploads for possible infringements. Your problem rather is how to push through your right to publish your Fur Elise performance there, because at YouTube no human being will care for you, but a stupid robot blocks you. Your individual interest, according to what I could read about such cases, is obviously not as much worth as the interests of the companies which convinced YouTube to stricktly block all copies of their music, which unfortuntately also blocks (wanted or unwanted) all competitive recordings. As the scanning robot found your performance to be similar to one which a strong company wants to market, yes, you are just shut down, although you didn´t infringe any copyrights. So, seriously, congratulations! You obviously played very well, then! 

[trus]

Thanks for your replies everyone!
I have acknowledged the copyright of Nyman's "Heart asks pleasure first " (which, in itself, is a bit of a funny story, as there is an old scottish song which sounds pretty much the same, have a listen yourself !!

MAeIw&feature=mh_lolz

The Nyman's copyright notice came from two people - one, a copyright collection agency for the Piano film, the other one, was for a completely different film, I found that music on youtube and it sounds nothing like what I play! (Obviously, didn't play that one that well, lol!)

I am disputing the copyright of Fur Elise, at the moment it seems simple - you just click the button and it is all done, he he he. Will wait to see what they say!
Will keep you posted if any drama develops Thanks again.

[trus]

Contact the UK's society of composers, artists and publishers where one goes to get licenses to use music in films, etc. I think they are located over near Soho.

Oxy, I tried to find the society you mentioned on the net, but no luck? I found an american society of that sort , and the Basca (British Association of Songwriters, composers and authors. Which i am neither. ??

[cometear]

I am almost positive that Fur Elise is public domain meaning it is legal to play and arrange without any problem as long as you are not using another recording (audio/video). If it is your own video than I believe YouTube gives you copyright for it. I cannot speak for the 2nd piece you mentioned.

[j_menz]

I am almost positive that Fur Elise is public domain

Almost positive? 

[cometear]

Almost positive? 

I feared to say 100% positive and end up being wrong.

[rmbarbosa]

Once I`ve recorded my own playing of a "romanza" from one unkown composer and put it in youtube. That Romanza appears in one french film and I was told by youtube I couldnt because copyright laws. But a lot of other pianists have that Romanza in youtube. So, I answer why a music from one unknown composer could have copyright and I asked if I couldnt record and put in youtube the andante (2ºMovement) of a Sonata of Mozart that appeared in another french film...
A few minutes latter, I was allowed to publish the Romanza...

[oxy60]

Once I`ve recorded my own playing of a "romanza" from one unkown composer and put it in youtube. That Romanza appears in one french film and I was told by youtube I couldnt because copyright laws. But a lot of other pianists have that Romanza in youtube. So, I answer why a music from one unknown composer could have copyright and I asked if I couldnt record and put in youtube the andante (2ºMovement) of a Sonata of Mozart that appeared in another french film...
A few minutes latter, I was allowed to publish the Romanza...

This is very interesting. It sounds that youtube has its own rules. Keep us informed!

[talby]

You experience supports my worries mentioned before, and the "wanted or unwanted" statement becomes even of more importance to once think about.
("Your individual interest, according to what I could read about such cases, is obviously not as much worth as the interests of the companies which convinced YouTube to stricktly block all copies of their music, which unfortuntately also blocks (wanted or unwanted) all competitive recordings. As the scanning robot found your performance to be similar to one which a strong company wants to market, yes, you are just shut down, although you didn´t infringe any copyrights. ").

[magicmusicmethod]

There is a difference between a copyrighted song and a copyrighted recording. What probably happened is that YouTube's bots scanning the audio file thought your recording was an actual sound recording created by someone else, and in mis-identifying it, assumed you were infringing. A performance of a public domain song that is done recently can in fact be copyrighted if it is a unique audio recording of an artist performing that piece.

This almost happened to me with a video I posted on Distraction Training, a teaching method I use to train my students to overcome fear and confusion (

) using a Bach piece.

YouTube misidentified the audio track of the video of ME actually playing the piece (Prelude 1 from Well Tempered Clavier) and gave me a copyright dispute warning.

Bach does not still own his copyrights.... LOL!!!

I disputed it back and they instantly dropped the issue.

Now, if I were using someone's copyrighted performance of that Bach piece, for instance if I downloaded a famous recording that was done recently and is a copyrighted audio recording, and overdubbed that to something I posted to YouTube, THAT would have been a separate issue.

[trus]

Thanks for all your comments Since I disputed the copyright issue I haven't heard anything back and the video is still live .. I assume that would be the end of it.