Remixes on a website.

April 16, 2006 @ 1:44pmindiana says:
Hello.

I would like to put some remixes I've made from songs of a popular artist on my website. What are the legalities of remixes? Since I never got permission from the artist, does that mean I can't put it on a website?
April 17, 2006 @ 7:40amwilliamsonl says:
Unfortunately this is really an area that is controversial at the moment. The answer depends on who you ask--the law as it stands now does not allow remixing without permission. There is however, a large movement to change the law, but even then there is a fee involved. Lawrence Lessig explains it well in a blog posting at http://www.lessig.org/blog/archives/001754.shtml.
Creative Commons recently sponsored a contest where remixes where posted online to protest the unfairness of the record companies' position and the court ruling. Read the article at http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,65037,00.html for more information and some other sources on remixing. The Grey Album by DJ Danger Mouse is a great example of the controvery surrounding remixing.

My un-legal opinion is that remixes should fall under fair use, but I also believe you are taking a chance in posting a remix on your website. I would you read the above article, look at the Creative Commons, Free Culture and Banned Music websites and make a decision you feel comfortable with.

Posting to the forum is only available to users who are logged in.