JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum Copyright Issues....Ignorance or Thievery

Hi Y'all.... I rarely see red...but I did the other night....when I saw an internet post with my Name on it....(not exactly stating the truth) I will try to stick strictly to issues so that I can get some concrete answers to something that happened this past summer...).

Last year (this year) in late winter, I offered to write a melody to a song posted on the net. The guy/gal was really wanting someone to do music and couldn't seem to thank me enough for offering. The subject matter touched my heart for reasons I won't post here....and
we communicated back and forth via emails...
The guy/gal accepted my suggested lyric
revisions (in writing) along with some excellent suggestions offered from a lyrics board.
The song lyrics were then reposted listing the guys/gals name along with "Kaley" in the copyright notation.

I explained to the guy/gal that I was backed up with other co-writes...and...that although I'd keep the lyrics by the piano...
I wasn't going to be able to get to them
for awhile. (and I am just plain slow because ...I hear melodies...but don't know chords...so I
painstakingly go after them one by one and then play over and over and over and over
till I can make a rough recording for someone else's ears other than mine)...whoops.....I said I'd stick to the issues) I also made "suggestions" via writing.....on what types of places could possibly be super interested in receiving a song like this. ( which non profit organizations might love a song like this) ...

We communicated back in forth many, many times...in writing. In May I finished the
melody.... and received a reply back...about how much he/she loved the melody.....and that he/she could not ever thank me enough.

This person liked? the song enough to have it put on his / her personal play list at Soundclick....which lists the copyright information ( which I've made photocopies of all) It shows in the copyright notation Lyrics by ___________ Melody by Kaley Willow. In checking this out, I see where it is on others' play lists as well. (not yet on my own JPF play list). Each list gives the same copyright information that was originally put on Soundclick...so I believe it is well documented on the internet that I had vested interest in at least ONE version of this song.

In July, I received an email from the co-writer asking for his/her 'song back' after it had been completed...(This was NOT a "middle of a co-write" breakdown...but after it was acknowledged as beautiful and a finished piece put on the internet on this person's own web play list). This party wanted my name off the copyright as if I had ...had nothing to do with either the lyrics or melody attached to the name of that song.

He/She had ...another opportunity to put a different melody to the lyrics....
I wrote back asking if he/she was telling me about having "another version" done by a 2nd co-writer. I also wished him/her well...and that I was SUPER PLEASED that he/she had an opportunity with a" 2nd version"...and to "GO FOR IT".....but that I felt it would be very foolish on my part to sign off on a copyright for the first version of the song "we" had created as if it had not ever happened. After all, at the time, I had no idea if it was a shark outfit who might borrow parts of the melody I had attached to his/her lyrics. So I said I wish you well with the opportunity but there will simply be TWO versions, two copyrights of this song. I never heard another word back...until I saw a posting on the internet thanking me for working on it but he/she had chosen another melody for his/her lyrics.

A publisher who has shown some interest in my songs...has suggested I consider having some of my piano melodies done up by an accomplished pianist.who could showcase the melodies... Someone at the university level at a music school...or a pro.....so that they can be pitched as instrumentals.

One of the songs I wanted to use was this song.

**so to the question,
Do I have to contact an entertainment lawyer to be able to include this song on a future CD?...

I still wish him or her well...I've heard the other version of the song and it's lovely!!...This is NOT a matter of sour grapes. It's the principle of the thing, I could easily change the name of the song...keep the melody...and not go through the hassle.... but after having had a challenging year of having a demo artist walk away with my co-writers and my $$$ and disappear off the face of the earth and then this.... I felt enough was enough. I'm very nice but not a doormat.

If anyone has had this specifically happen to them after a song had been "completed" and copyright notated or can offer advice...I'd appreciate hearing from you. I'm almost thinking it was not intentional on the part of the other person...but more of a ..."just not knowing".....I will continue to think that.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.............

best wishes,
Kaley

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=6469
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=8404
http://www.flashfast.com/kids/
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kwwg




[This message has been edited by Kaley Willow (edited 12-15-2005).]