• From: West Georgia
  • Registered: 2006-10-14
  • Posts: 2,557

Topic: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

I don't know how it is in the UK, so this is a question on American copyright law: If I write a parody of a tune, but I use the tune's melody, can I be sued, even if I change the lyrics?

Thanks

Bill

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  • Grah1
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  • From: Cold and rainy Settle UK
  • Registered: 2011-05-12
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

As I under stand as long as you dont record or profit from it then its ok

Grah1's Website

  • From: West Georgia
  • Registered: 2006-10-14
  • Posts: 2,557

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

Got it, thanks, Graham. wink

Bill

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  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

Good thing!

I heard the Arsenal football/soccer fans singing the other day:

"Mourinho is a wanker,
A wanker, a wanker,
Mourinho is a wanker,
A wanker is he."

  • From: Dunedin, New Zealand
  • Registered: 2007-01-01
  • Posts: 200

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

Tenement Funster wrote:

Good thing!

I heard the Arsenal football/soccer fans singing the other day:

"Mourinho is a wanker,
A wanker, a wanker,
Mourinho is a wanker,
A wanker is he."

That could be slander, but only if Mourinho could prove it wasn't true LOL

"War never determines who is right , only who is left"
"Democracy is the right to protest about  the lack of it!"
  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 4,320

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

"The United States Supreme Court in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. (1994) stated in no uncertain terms that a parody as a form of criticism or comment could be fair use of a copyrighted work." - See more at: http://corporate.findlaw.com/intellectu … QsY1w.dpuf

There's some 4 factors that are reviewed to determine if it's considered fair use or not.  So, if you're really personally concerned about it, you may want to review the information here.  I like facts - this article seems filled with them.  Of course, they also claim that this is not to be considered legal advice... but then nothing is unless you're shelling out a good $200/hr!

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

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  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

You can be sued regardless of the law or facts of a case.

  • From: West Georgia
  • Registered: 2006-10-14
  • Posts: 2,557

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

Baldguitardude wrote:

You can be sued regardless of the law or facts of a case.

And some lawyers are so good at it, they could sue a ham sandwich. big_smile

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
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  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

In the US, parody is an explicitly protected expression and protected by the "fair use" clause.   No lawyer in his right mind would pick up a case like that, as he would lose.

"Weird" Al Yankovic has made a career out of this.  And while he always gets permission before writing his parodies, he does that because he respects the original artists, not because he has to.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

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10 Reply by saamalbert247 (edited by saamalbert247 2016-09-27 22:34:14)

  • Registered: 2016-09-26
  • Posts: 1

Re: "Sung To The Tune Of......."

Strummerboy Bill wrote:

I don't know how it is in the UK, so this is a question on American copyright law: If I write a parody of a tune, but I use the tune's melody, can I be sued, even if I change the lyrics?

Thanks

Bill

I don't swing that way because in my point of view it comes under freedom of expression.....!
TragusInfantigoRx