From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Eric Christian
Berg
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2000 4:44 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: TSR Internet Policy (was Re: [Open_Gaming] A D20STL
caution)
<< I'm curious what the definition is. If I sing an off-beat rip-off of 'My
Sharona' to a crowd of people, is that distribution? >>
"Off-beat rip-off" MIGHT qualify it as satire or parody, depending on the
nature of the rip-off. That takes us off into a side-branch of the fair use
provisions, since parody is explicitly mentioned under fair use.
At the same time, I suspect Weird Al scrupulously acquires whatever
permissions he can before releasing his song parodies. The man's an awfully
visible lawsuit target otherwise. I've never looked at my CD sleeves to see
if there's licensing indicated on them or not.
<< How about if they
wander off and relay it? >>
IF it is a parody and IF that makes it fair use, I believe it is then under
YOUR copyright, which they are then technically violating.
Martin L. Shoemaker
Emerald Software, Inc. -- Custom Software and UML Training
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.EmeraldSoftwareInc.com
www.UMLBootCamp.com
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