Mixes are not intellecual property

[yraparla]

I very rarely start threads, and I try to be constructive or productive with my posts too.

But I just want to point out the hypocrisy of trying to guard your mixes once posted online. Even if you buy all the songs you use in a mix, you haven't paid the proper licensing fee to modify or use the song in a way that significantly adds contribution to your product. That means these mixes are illegal anyway. Does anyone care? not really (least of all me).

But as soon as that mix is online, you can't get angry that someone used it for their own purpose...pay the licensing fee first. A mix is not your own in the public domain, people are free to use it as they see fit just as you did when you made the mix off of other people's songs/effort.

Do we frown on copied mixes? of course. But unless its a fun thread like most of the LBC ones (where we're sharing an inside joke). Leave it off BTF, please.

edit: At some point or another a thread comes up with people complaining. A recent one was just more juvenile than usual, but it's a common enough occurence that this is not directed at any team (but maybe at one specific person)

 

[Meistro]

Good point swi.

 

[Don]

best post on BTF I have ever read.

 

[jasraj93]

swii for moderator ;D

 

[vaibhav]

swii for moderator ;D

lol i was gunna say that too

 

[abhigames]

Can anyone really own music? It comes from the heart. Let's keep music free people. Keep downloading.

 

[faizan]

lol abhi, so metaphysical!

i hate it when teams are stingy with mixes and videos...get over it, you performed, post it...

and if people use ur mix, be flattered, it's not that serious. It's not like you were about to get paid off that mix.

from a legal stand point, you have no rights, so just chill out.

and please, don't make a thread about it.

 

[campy614]

swii for moderator ;D

lol i was gunna say that too

damnit, beat me to it lol.

Completely agree

 

[karan923]

Very good point Swi.

If you don't want your mix to get "stolen" then don't post it!! It's that simple. Stop all this b*in about "this team stole this teams mix!!!" Like Swi said, its not legally yours in the first place. I go to sites where you have different downloading options. You can either buy the song for a small fee/free and use it for only non profit purposes such as making a mix for your team, or you can pay the full price and have the full legal rights to do what you want with the song such as put it on an album and make money off of it. If you're really that serious about your mixes getting stolen, then pay the full price of the song and get the right to do what you want with it. Then, you can complain how ever much you want about people taking them.

 

[kinnell]

The best way to guard your mix and reduce the chance that someone will jack it? Throw in a "Sher Foundation" every 30 seconds. Or even a Sher Foundation song. (Or any team) Want to REALLY reduce the chance of someone jacking it? Throw in a "<Insert your Name> is Cool". People may still use it, but hell, they're giving you publicity!

 

[[Sher] Imran]

Although I agree with a majority of what is being said, I can't say I'm completely behind the idea that mixes aren't intellectual property. Maybe its just me, but watching Pavan (our mixer/dj on Sher) make a mix is awesome, you see him break up songs, piece them back together, add effects, beats, etc and out comes something totally crazy and different. If I were to give 100 people the same 5 songs and ask them to make me a mix, I would get 100 different mixes. That is creativity at work (assuming that you don't just string them together). Why are some mixes more coveted on here than others? Again, creativity. Hell I'm on Sher but I'm constantly bugging Pavan to make more mixes because his mixing genius is what makes Sher mixes so enjoyable. Not gonna lie sometimes I hear our track list and I'm like ehh is this gonna sound cool? But dang when that final product comes out, I'm always wrong. Now I cant mix for crap (I call myself DJ Halaal because I butcher music) so people can argue that I don't know what I'm talking about. Very true. But I'm talking as someone who is the biggest fan of his team's own DJ. And I recognize the work and effort that is put in. I agree though, if its posted on here its probably going to get taken/used by someone. But isn't that the funny part about BTF? People come on here and share their mixes, share their performances, and post videos that we would never be able to find otherwise, and it's all hinged on respect for each other. I look at you and I say I know you respect the game and the blood/sweat/tears that go into putting on a routine, heres a video/mix/etc for yall. Then for someone to take that and use it for themselves and say hey you posted it on here its your fault- seems a little odd doesn't it? By the same token, why say anything bad about any team that takes another team's choreo? Is that really intellectual property? The base moves were created generations ago. Teams have come and put their stamp on certain moves/formations/segments (jugni leans, dominoes, certain stunts, choreo sequences, etc). If they post their videos on here and someone ends up using those aspects, does that team have a reason to be upset? Its how you string those moves together and present it in a sequence that matters, doesn't it? How is the effort behind that any different from the effort put into a mix?

I try to avoid posting in the main forum because a lot of the arguments seem to be for arguments sake. I've been perfectly comfortable posting in Off-Topics about the latest poop video or sports drama. But this thread seemed to have a hypocritical undertone that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Apologies to anyone who is offended by that, I'm not calling anyone a hypocrite here, but it seems to have embedded itself in this thread.

 

[Pooja]

I agree and disagree.

Yea no one has the license fees etc...it's really not that serious...

However, it is common courtesy to ask someone first if you plan on dancing to their mix...

 

[hsdeol]

just a minor correction on swi's point. its not illegal to make a mix. its illegal to sell a mix in when you dont own the rights to the songs. however there is a way to get around that so you can legally sell a mix. there is a mash artist name "Girltalk". for those who have heard his music know that he makes mixes and for him to own the rights to every song that he uses would be impossible. but what he does is called microsampling or something, in which he uses samples small enough from each song that he doesnt need to purchase the rights in order to legally own his own mix. that then gives him the right to sell them. so if youre making girltalk bhangra mixes (which would be bonkers) or purchasing the rights, you dont own your mix. but its a douche bag move if someone steals your mix or portions of a mix. however, if i were to make an insane mix that i dont want people using/"stealing" then i simply wouldnt be a btf whore and post it. give it to people you trust and get feedback from them, its as simple as that.

 

[rampur209]

i think it your going to use some other teams mix just ask there caption whats the worse they will say is NO. There is always people on btf that are willing to help with mixes like folk ent. karan, sargam, siddyp

 

[faizan]

shouts to gurbir/karan/sargam for being AEG's resident mix masters.

and yes, it is common courtesey to ask before you borrow, please try and respect this.

 

[yraparla]

just a minor correction on swi's point. its not illegal to make a mix. its illegal to sell a mix in when you dont own the rights to the songs. however there is a way to get around that so you can legally sell a mix. there is a mash artist name "Girltalk". for those who have heard his music know that he makes mixes and for him to own the rights to every song that he uses would be impossible. but what he does is called microsampling or something, in which he uses samples small enough from each song that he doesnt need to purchase the rights in order to legally own his own mix. that then gives him the right to sell them. so if youre making girltalk bhangra mixes (which would be bonkers) or purchasing the rights, you dont own your mix. but its a douche bag move if someone steals your mix or portions of a mix. however, if i were to make an insane mix that i dont want people using/"stealing" then i simply wouldnt be a btf whore and post it. give it to people you trust and get feedback from them, its as simple as that.

the point here is the micromix. Girltalk does get personal permission from all the artists he samples (if not legal). Sampling a full verse from 50 cent or Kanye IS illegal because their work is critical to the product you're creating (as opposed to micromashups in which they are but a small piece).

But I think the my original post used the term 'legal' too much. I just wanted to point out that you don't get permission to use other people's works so in my mind it's hypocritical to get pissed when people use yours. Should you ask permission? Yes, of course. My brother wanted to use Abhi's Hero Naare for a school show, and I told him not to unless he sent an email asking. But if he had done it, would it have been the end of the world? Would Abhi break down in tears and start a thread.....

But this thread seemed to have a hypocritical undertone that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Apologies to anyone who is offended by that, I'm not calling anyone a hypocrite here, but it seems to have embedded itself in this thread.

Please don't post a line like this, if you're not going to even attempt to clarify. The irony here is I started the thread to point out what I felt was hypocrisy...of course people shouldn't copy choreo or mixes. But yes, it is your fault for putting it in the public domain, IF you care about it being used. 99% of people are just gonna bump it on their stereo, but to get pissy that a few people use it for a vaisakhi mela, or birthday party or something to me is ridiculous.

Why would you not be satisfied that your mix is exciting audiences long after your performance? ego, plain and simple. You want recognition, which is fair obviously, but just admit then that it's for personal satisfaction you're getting mad.

People should ask for permission, most people do ask for permission. But if it's for a non-competitive local show, I say it's fair game (although certainly a 'douchebag move')

 

[mafzal]

Swi for Moderator 2009

 

[KingGeorge]

they stole your mix, not your car. its a high school show, not a competition. laugh and move on.

 

[Saleem]

they stole your mix, not your car. its a high school show, not a competition. laugh and move on.

+1. Context is everything. It's some high schoolers at a vaisakhi show, not your opponents at some competition.

 

[Waleed]

I agree and disagree.

Yea no one has the license fees etc...it's really not that serious...

However, it is common courtesy to ask someone first if you plan on dancing to their mix...

+1