Misha883 opened this issue on Feb 08, 2005 ยท 37 posts
deemarie posted Thu, 10 February 2005 at 12:58 AM
Ok, let me see if I can help to clear this up!
First Off - Rosity DOES have a member of the staff to answer legal questions - JenyK - Jenifer Keeling!
When this issue was first brought up - I called Jenifer to get Renderositys policy concerning the use of song lyrics! To get professional advice!
Her response was ... it is OK to use a small portion of song lyrics [and/or poetry, and/or prose] either embedded in your image or as text under the image - However, you cannot publish the full lyrics within, or under your image!
Unless ... the song is public domain, you have to have written permission from the song writer, or author of the lyrics [poetry, prose].
Using someone's lyrics [poetry, or prose] without permission and incorporating them into your photograph or image is no different than someone stealing YOUR photograph or Image and embedding their text within it!
This should not be that hard of a concept to grasp!
Just because it is someone elses art [and writing is an art] does not mean YOU can use it without permission!
Also, just because it is a song you hear on the radio does not mean that it is fair-game to use! How would you feel if a famous artist saw one of your photographs or images and used that image on a record cover Without your permission Without giving you monetary compensation for on a record cover? I would hazard an educated guess that you would be calling your lawyer!
It is no different when you post someones lyrics [poetry, prose] without first getting their permission!
If you want viewers of your work to read all the lyrics that are within a song that inspired your photograph or image, you can include a link to an official site that contains the lyrics! Of course, you can always post the title to the song and a short stanza or verse, being sure to credit the author of the text!
Dee-Marie
Message edited on: 02/10/2005 01:01