I'm sure this has been asked a bajoodled amount of times. What music am I allowed to put in my games? I have some music from an album that could theoretically fit in one of my games, but I want to know if that's allowed. Is it merely a don't-make-money thing? Or do I have to put credits? Do I have to get permission? I highly doubt I'll be able to contact the author of the musics. :|
I'm pretty sure if you credit the music and you're not selling the game you would be okay, but It's always best to try and ask the musicians before hand
Sorry to see your thread went off topic so quickly, OMC. I just read your post again, if it's a well known piece and you credit it I'm sure you'll be fine
Originally Posted by -Adam- Sorry to see your thread went off topic so quickly, OMC. I just read your post again, if it's a well known piece and you credit it I'm sure you'll be fine
no adam thats incorrect. If you are making the game commercial, you cannot legally use "any" music. Even the original works on VGMusic.com wouldn't be legal, because they are derivative works. However, if your game is shareware, you don't even need to document it. Nobody will care. Its just good manners; I had an INI in Gridquest with the full information on each midi file I used
whatever the case is you can't legally use any piece of musical composition without the written authorization of the authors/legal rights owners, either you'll be using it for freeware or commercial games, because the problem isn't only about taking advantage of someone else's work, it's also redistributing it without the consent of the author.
That is correct Johnny; inherent copyright means control over redistribution of your intellectual property. It is only 'legal' to use music for your games that have free-distribution clauses attached to them; the ones the author has voluntarily surrendered to public use. However, if you're making a freeware game, while it is technically illegal to use commercial media in it, you have higher odds of being struck by a meteorite than anyone caring. Its just that in commercial games, because you are directly (or indirectly) profiting, you need to make absolutely sure your have only original content. So in other words, for freeware games, go ahead and use whatever floats your boat. Its good manners to cite it, but it doesn't really matter, and nobody is ever going to ask you to remove any of the music, much less sue you.
That sounds pretty much right, but i don't actually know so maybe you shouldn't listen to me. I'm certain, though, that it's more about distribution rights as opposed to the actual playing of the music.
especially in click games, where the music in embedded and can't really be removed easily, assuming you don't use external files. Really, nobody will ever care, unless you start asking money for the game
Probably true, the chances of people finding this out is between slim and none. I am planning on soundtrack music in one of my next games actually; usually i care, but on this occasion i don't since i think it'll improve the atmosphere of my game
On rare occasion, people don't want their music in a place they can't control or track. That's why it's always good to ask, even if just to get a yes you already know is going to happen. They might have something else to say.
It all depends on the copyright. Some musics have a copyright that says "Don't use this at all", so you can't. Others say "You could use this if you don't edit it" or "You could use it if you don't make money from it".
If it hasn't been copyrighted at the time that you got it, then you could even go ahead and sell the game using it. If it does have a copyright, you'll probably have to credit the music as well as the copyright on it.
That's kinda what I learned from ethics class anyway. Not sure what copyrights have to do with ethics.
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
Something like that. We got to the conclusion that it was part of your duties or something to allow someone to steal your work. At least that's what I convinced them.
Anyway, point is, if it doesn't have a copyright, you could legally do whatever you want with it. If it does, you probably could do a lot too.
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
Originally Posted by X-Member633 Anyway, point is, if it doesn't have a copyright, you could legally do whatever you want with it. If it does, you probably could do a lot too.
That's why Night of the Living Dead is in public domain, they forgot to put a copyright on it
HOWEVER, the system changed some time (I dunno when) so now works are automatically copyrighted when you conceive them.
- Ok, you must admit that was the most creative cussing this site have ever seen -
I looked up the reasons why on Wiki and it would appear that the copyright had been included on the old Night Of The Flesh-Eaters title card. However, when they changed the name they forgot to re-introduce the copyright on the film, hence the public domain status. D'oh!
Originally Posted by X-Member1900 HOWEVER, the system changed some time (I dunno when) so now works are automatically copyrighted when you conceive them.
Yup. Without getting into an entirely useless argument over it, I think it's good that way.
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good ol' phizzy!
Edited by the Author.
