Opinions wanted on copyright issues

[romdos]

hello all... I hope this is in the correct place here, but if not I suppose one of the mods can move it to where it belongs... seemed like a performers issue... It will probably get long winded as I wish to explain in detail what's going on... so here goes... as some of you know, I play in 2 different bands.... In Fishkill, I play bass, and that is basically it, In the other, String Theory, I am one of the major contributors of songs and arrangements... we've been working over a year now on putting together a CD. We started off as a 3 piece, but Ryan left after the first couple practices... That left Doug, the drummer, and myself the guitar player... Doug and I started putting some things together, esentially each bringing a fleshed out song into practice and working with them. between the two of us we ended up with 9 songs... 8 of which I had put together, and one of Doug's. we began recording them in the hopes of getting a good quality demo put together. I played everything except drums, and as Doug had decided he wanted to sing, I let him. We multi tracked using a Tascam 24 track digital and mixed down using Sony's Vegas. By last June we had finished instrumental recording, and needed to add vocals... it took many attempts and the results were less than acceptable.... he wanted to redo them, but there were a couple he just couldn't hit to save himself, and I ended up recording those... about this time Ryan reappears, and came back into the fold. he became our bass player, and we began working on new material... my stipulation at the time was that Doug and I finish the 9 song CD and move on from there, he agreed, yet to this day the damn thing is unfinished. That's a bitch for another day... Also at this point Doug found us a drummer, and stepped out front, bought an electric guitar, and became essentially the front guy playing rhythm and singing... We began working on some new songs, and have reached a point where I'll contribute music, and Doug will come up with Lyrics, or we all will jam until we flesh out a song, all good stuff... what's happened now is that we want to publish these and copyright them... the issue is that Doug want half credit for everything we've worked on, no matter who brought it to the table... I want full credit for my contributions and feel strongly enough about it that I'll walk to keep them if I must. I have no issues with things that were indeed mutual... his one comment to me was his drums made the song and he felt he should get half credit, my response was that I brought a finished song to the table and it didn't matter what the drummer did... I've played a lot of years and have carried some of these around for awhile, others I've been working on for awhile... in my opinion ther are my songs... what's happened over this is that a project that was one of my most rewarding musical experiences has in fact become a nightmare.... so anyhow, apologies for my long windedness... this has really torqued me, and I'm venting some, so am I correct in my attitude that my songs are my songs, or am I the one not playing nice....

[Alucard]

you seem to be in the right, this is just another way for him to ride your creative talents....at least where i work if you leave midjob, and then it is finnished you dont get credit from the boss

[romdos]

Thanks Alucard... I need to readress this issue tonight, but I believe the songs I brought that were complete are in fact mine, and I'll split credit on the others... Could get ugly...

[Justpickin]

I see a band on the verge of breaking up

[romdos]

I see a band on the verge of breaking up

Quite possible JP, and over something that doesn't make that much sense to me... never saw this one coming...

[Brew]

I also believe you to be in the "Right", Romdos

From what you are saying, the almost fully formed songs were brought to the table, so to speak, and that is that.

Half credit for drumming? I have never heard that one before! In which case Keith Moon should have had a credit on every Pete Townshend song..

Your drummer friend is confusing "Composition" with that of "arrangement".

Just my honest opinion....

Sorry to hear it has soured an otherwise rewarding experience. I hope that it gets back on course again.

[romdos]

My thoughts exactly Brew... I am hoping we can come to an agreement, yet I feel very strongly about giving something away I did on my own... the Keith Moon analogy is one I've thought about too.... In hindsight, I suppose we should have agreed from the onset who got credit for what, but as I said earlier I never saw it coming....

[retromal]

My opinion on this is the same as above.... the real question is
who wrote the songs not performed them, did the drummer write the drum part? from what you say, I think not. Therfore a clear cut case.
We have agreed that our band we all have the writing rights but then again we have all been there all the time....
I am pretty sure you can get another drummer..... if it came to it that is.
I totally agree with your point of view.

all the best


Mal

[buckkillr8]

let us know the outcome Rom. Remember you always got the Fenderpick band here.

[romdos]

Thanks guys... I'll post the outcome as it unfolds....

[romdos]

Okay.... we have resolution... Thursday evening I had quite a chip on my shoulder when I went to practice... I was quite PO'd and it was obvious when I got there.... I spoke briefly that I did have an issue, but didn't want to discuss it if front of the rest of the band.... that said, I had one of the best practices I've had in a while... my solos flowed and struck to the bone, and it was obvious to all there was magic in the air.... someone asked if I had stepped in mojo on the way in... anyway we talked Friday evening, and although it was not initially received well, we are in fact copyrighting the music by author now... meaning I've got credit for mine, Doug gets credit for his, and we share on the collaborations... another piece to come out is the fact we are going to have the CD done probably by the 21st, and we are including 2 additional tunes we have recorded since June... so it looks as if we'll have a 10 song disk ready to roll by the end of January.... :thumbsup:

[Bytor1975]

Glad to hear of some resolution and progress.

Keep us up to date on the disc.

[romdos]

Thanks Jason... I was hoping to wade through this.... when we get the disk completed, I'll get some links up here, and I plan on doing the same for the other band as well shortly...

[TexMexMike]

What a pickle! I think you should get full credit for the material that you did. Doug should just be credited for playing . In a sense, he was nothing more than a session drummer on the tunes. INMYHOP.

[Old Tele man]

...in all truthfulness, you don't want OPINIONS, you want legal PRECEDENCE and DECISIONS.

[Jossy]

Glad to hear of some resolution and progress.

Keep us up to date on the disc.

+1.

Saludos.

[Alucard]

+ uno, por favor!