I just joined after lurking for the past month off and on. I use to be in a band, but since ive moved away and work takes most of my time i write and do my stuff solo. However my talent level is only so high, that being said I was wondering if anyone could help me with the following questions that I may have overlooked in the FAQ.

1. Im pretty weird about using my name on sites, if I use a 'stage' name does that totally negate any copyright i have from uploading stuff here? So if something happens and i hear it and im like wait thats my stuff. And they say "Oh you arent really John Smith youre John Williams so you have no control sorry". Or what?

2. If i upload a rough version of a song , say Rythm Guitar and vocals etc.. Can people actually take my rough draft and record the guitar better (as im just a rythm guy) and fix the timing issues, etc.. on a complete new track or must it be added to my original track uploaded? Same goes on other instruments.

3 If i partake and add vocals and lyrics to someone elses song, do I still have the rights to those lyrics for my own songs or do they own them since I decided to join their collaboration? Kinda vice versa if someone does #2 off my start but just improves it or adds different parts that i like to improve the song do they have rights to that if I decided to take the track and put it on a cd to sell to people?

Thank you for taking time to answer! Sorry again if i put this in the wrong spot. I just wanna be clear on the site and the rules before i did anything :)

Welcome to Kompoz.

1. I don't use my own full name, but Raf (the Boss) has my details so I believe even though I may call myself Phraser or John Guitar, he would pass on the proceeds of the million of dosh that my projects have made. 

There are some experts onn site who can advise you or point you in the right direction regarding Copyright, CopyLeft, CC licencing et al. My words of comfort are that once uploaded, your ideas and efforts are on the "who did that and when" official map.

2. Other contributors can upload improved tracks of your ideas. You choose if they become project tracks or remain auditions. At the same time if the audition track is copied, samples taken, ideas used or similar then the originator of the track has evidence. Have a read of the information about CC Licences or other blogs about Licencing.

3. Once uploaded any piece of work becomes covered by the CC Licence chosen for that project on Kompoz. It is not a copyright Licence or necessarily stops copying or use.

I any of the above is inaccurate please PM me and I will consider changes to it rather than generate conflicting replies.

Yep - read up on the CCL, and also understand the difference between copyright and license. Copyright is who owns something, and license is a set if grants and priveleges given by the owner to the licensee.

So, you copyright your lyrics, and by posting them to a proj, grant the proj owner (and potentially others based on the proj license) the right to use your lyrics within the confines of the license the proj is under. But you own the lyrics and can use them over and over, etc.

The CCL has a variety of options you ought to become familiar with.

Copyright

License

CCL

Welcome, and have fun!

:)

Oh, don't be such a baby......post your stuff and see what happens....

.....what....don't you want to "participate"? 

Anyways, you'll be fine....no offense to KOMPTZ....but they're not exactly getting a s!@#-load of the internet traffic they could/should be....so don't sweat it.....

....worry more about getting in touch with real/legit artists interested in collaborating in creating great music.....let it go man....  :)

http://www.kompoz.com/compose-collaborate/home.track.project?trackId=188913&projectId=31698

Best of luck!

Dan

Couple other quick question if I may.

1. I have a mxl condensor mic in which ive recorded demos guitar and vocals on, but i recently bought a m-audio fast track so i could record cleaner stuff.. One of the things that attracted me to the site was the instruments part. I get so frustrated with laying instruments and timing etc.. Im capable of doing it, but what would take me at a few days to get right without messing up im sure someone here could do in like 2 takes or something..

So the question is, is it ok to upload these 'demos' of mine for a general idea? Or do i have to do the soundtone still etc.. even if i want the guitar track re-done etc..

2. What are the rulings on selling the work? If i put my music/songs/lyrics here and people contribute. Then I try to sell the cd online. Do i owe the people who helped complete the song royalties? If so how much and vice versa if i contribued to their stuff. Or are credits just needed someplace?

Sorry for the newbie questions ;x Just trying to learn/gather whats up.

try to make good demos. If you make bad demos people will think you suck or are lazy. Just sayin

It doesn't really matter what you do. How you choose to manage your projects is up to you. In saying that, simply look at what others are doing within there projects to accommodate collaborators. For example, you need to think about what a drummer needs to be able to contribute to your project. He or she wont be able to record drums over programmed drums. So if you want others to jump in there are a few things that might help

a. If you have a mix/demo with several instruments, maybe upload that as a reference track. then -

b. add separate instrument/vocal tracks.

c. use a sync tone on these separate tracks. (see kompoz tutorials)

d. timing is fairly critical.

If you want others to copy your guitar tracks adding there own flavor, simply state it in the overview notes or discussion section for the project. Some may not have a problem with that, others may not be interested. Perhaps write tabs, sheet music or charts. Upload them as a pdf. If you cant do any of that or simply couldn't be bothered, who cares, very few do. Projects have started from simple guitar riffs and turned into masterpieces. Masterpieces have had no collaborators and have slipped into the abyss of older projects gone unnoticed.

These are just some observations and are certainly not the rule. Others may have a completely different approach. If you want to see what not to do, just visit my projects.

Start a project and have some fun, you'll learn soon enough.

FYI - I don't really appreciate my posts being "reported as spam", so whoever's doing that, please stop...otherwise, I'll yank my music from this site and delete my account and take my toys somewhere else to play.

Nice welcome for a new user.

....I was just trying to help out and give some advice....

I didn't see what you posted that got flagged, Dan, but don't take it personally - coulda been a kneejerk reaction.

If it was something that offered a service, then that was likely the cause, well intentioned or not on your part.

We don't have a marketplace forum, and likely should, and so it's hard to see where to post that sort of help (like I said - I missed your post so I'm just running with this...) so it's easy to see how people might misconstrue that sort of thing.

I'm just surprised that 90% of what I post isn't flagged for simply being inane...

Hello Dan,

I saw your post had been wiped and assumed it was because you had infringed Kompoz guidelines. If you had not then I sympathise. I suggest you do not give further sport but if wronged then contact our Leader, Raf http://www.kompoz.com/compose-collaborate/profile.member?memberId=1000 via personal message. If you have been reported for no reason then I am sure it will be discussed with the person responsible.

Recognise that the site is for nice people.

I didnt get to read the flagged reply either sorry. 

Thank you for the help so far guys. I think the only thing that wasnt answere so far was selling my music/finished product with peoples contributions. Any word on that? 

Dan, we missed it. What was that advice?

Most of us on kompoz are here for the simple joy of making music with like minded talent from all over the world.

Copyrights and ownership are really only important if you have dreams of living the life of Charlie on 2 and a half men. They never showed him making music but he owned a beach house in Santa Monica or somewhere off the proceeds of the copyrights of his jungles. Right. Not in 2012. If you want to make a living in music in this day and age you need to gig. and gig. and gig. and sell. and teach. and gig. and sell.

Sorry if that came out like negativity, and not everybody in Kompoz will agree with it. But many of us were somewhat successful in the music business in the 70's and 80's, if only on a local level, and paid a few bills with proceeds from the fruit of our passions. We fell in love, had babies, needed a real dayjob and look at music now as a passionate hobbie that we can still take some pride in the product of.

If you are creative we'll be happy to be creative with you. You can have anything I might give you. If you want to try to make money from it, more power to you.

This discussion happens about once a month in here. This comment will self destruct with the next comment that discusses all the different levels of share-alike copyright definitions...

Thanks Lonnie,

Im pretty bohemian, i dont expect to make millions, but id like to maybe make hundred(s) just to put towards new guitar, better gear etc... I dont need much :) I just enjoy making music as well. But if i can get a lil scratch back in my pocket after dishing out money to get the thing started i definitely want to. 

I dont really have the luxury to do gigs n such working night shift sleeping most the day etc.. I have a 'lil' following for the crappy demo like stuff i do and they constantyl ask me bout an album so im just trying to please all parties :)

THanks for the answer man. 

You can totally do an album. Absolutely. That happens all the time in here. I doubt if anybody has made enough money from any of them to buy a guitar, but there have been some good albums created here. I can brag about being on albums released in Italy, in Sweden, in the states (buffs fingernails on shirt...)

Nice :) I dont think ill sell as much to get a guitar either, but it all adds up :)

Oh and Israel. I'm on albums released in Israel, how cool is THAT!? Avi, I love you man.

Thanks for the responses (both public and private) regarding my post being marked as spam.
Again, I'm a newbie so maybe I did something I wasn't supposed to and didn't realize it????
The only thing I can think of is maybe I included my website URL in my post (habit)....is that a "no-no"?
Maybe(?) it was an automated thing?
Sorry for coming off like a bass-player [ :) ] ... it just torqed me that someone would mark it as spam....maybe I jumped the gun...and if so, I apologize.

I'll keep an eye on it.

Later!

Dan Tharp 

I'm sure it was an automatic thing. Blog police don't exist in this universe. We have enough trouble trying to keep kompoz from becoming the next Napster, someone joining simply to upload complete Pop albums. That could get us shut down.

@Dan

"The only thing I can think of is maybe I included my website URL in my post (habit)....is that a "no-no"? ".

That's what it was. A little while back the process of including URLs in these areas were auto-prevented and what ever included with them went into the ether. 

Don't feel so bad about being a bass player, (looks at Lonnie), some of our golden members can't afford six strings although it is true to say they are highly treasured:)

1. Im pretty weird about using my name on sites, if I use a 'stage' name does that totally negate any copyright i have from uploading stuff here? So if something happens and i hear it and im like wait thats my stuff. And they say "Oh you arent really John Smith youre John Williams so you have no control sorry". Or what?

Regardless of any usernames used on websites, with the right documentation in hand, you will be able to prove your copyright ownership in a legal battle.

2. If i upload a rough version of a song , say Rythm Guitar and vocals etc.. Can people actually take my rough draft and record the guitar better (as im just a rythm guy) and fix the timing issues, etc.. on a complete new track or must it be added to my original track uploaded? Same goes on other instruments.

Yes.  Is that what you want?  Make it known in your project overview window.

3 If i partake and add vocals and lyrics to someone elses song, do I still have the rights to those lyrics for my own songs or do they own them since I decided to join their collaboration? Kinda vice versa if someone does #2 off my start but just improves it or adds different parts that i like to improve the song do they have rights to that if I decided to take the track and put it on a cd to sell to people?

If you create a unique part for any project, it is yours.  Depending on which CC license is being used will determine if anyone can copy/remix/sell anything from a project for profit, with or without permission.

Dan, its not automated. You can keep you website url in your profile. Posting it all over the place would be unsolicited advertisment (Spam). Also, Kompoz is a place to share work with others. Your work is already completed and available for download on Amazon. Although it's pretty impressive, it's not going to be recieved that well here. If it was created here it would be different. This is NOT a showcase site. Its a place to work with others who have similar interests. Im not trying to be mean. It's just the culture here. 

In fact, if that material is copyrighten already, it may be a violation of terms regardless if you own it or not. We all operate under the assumption that the material is free to use basically. Im sure no one wants to get sued by you for using the material

Reading my post now it came off as being snotty. That wasnt my intention at all. Dan really has some nice songs. Great playing

V1C - your point is still valid though...

Thanks again for all the help and summing it up. Put my first lil piece up now! 

I gotta get some sleep though. Hope the demo attracts a few people :)

V1C: No problem at all...you didn't come off "snotty"  :)
I definitely don't want to violate the intent of this site.  If it should turn out that completed pieces aren't appropriate, no problem...I'll just pull off my posted pieces and re-post others when I'm in the midst of making some more.

You're right....these pieces are already complete and parts of unsigned albums, but I was looking to collaborate with others, perhaps adding to each others' music and etc.

Let me explain where I'm coming from... 

I have a piece on another album called "Delays Delays" (you can find it on my website) as well as reverbnation.
An online contact/friend of mine took that piece (with my permission of course) and added a layer of electric guitar to it.  It turned out really awesome.....it took the piece in a whole new direction and I really enjoyed the idea of collaborating musically, which I've never really done before, being a solo artist.
(That new/improved piece is called "Delays Delays (with Beaux Dean)" and you can find it on my website as well as on SoundCloud and Reverbnation.)

So, when I ran across this site, I thought, cool....a place where others could take some of my music, add to it, and I could do the same, visa/versa.

Make sense?

That's all I'm looking to do.
If this isn't the right/appropriate place for that kind of exchange....that's cool....I understand.
Otherwise, I'd be interested in hearing what others can add to my music in a collaborative manner.

Thoughts?
Should I look elsewhere for this kind of thing?
(Again....no hard feelings....just wanting to make sure it's all appropriate.) 

Dan, what you might do is post up your tunes as separate projects, with each track as a separate track in the project.

This would allow others to contribute their pieces to your tune, say, in place of your existing part. You could even note what things you want to see replaced, changed.

This also allows someone to post up their interpretation/vision of things using your tracks and some of theirs. This typically is done here as an idea mix. If you as the proj owner like the interpretation, you ask the contributor for their seps and you mix things up from there.

Also, by posting up seps of your tune, you have a better chance of getting a mix engineer interested.

Posting up completed tunes generally strikes folks like this: "Oh... Well done. Complete - nothing to do here so move along."

This is a site where collaborating to acheive a final product is the focus. Everyone has a vision of their tune, and most post up an idea mix showing where they think things could go, and depending on skills, maybe post up in that some framework. e.g.: I'll often throw together programmed drums and bass to go along with my guitar on stuff to show where I think the idea is going, but make it clear I want to replace those with contributions from others here, and I provide stem mixes w/o the bass, and w/o the drums so that players can fill in those blanks.

Most folks are not going to want to work on a completed tune - you need to break things out for them to fill in.

:)

...and since, at this point, all of my music posted on this site so far is "complete", I here-by give anyone on this site permission to take this music and add to it...add a layer of something new...add a new instrument, or vocals, or whatever turns your fancy.
THAT'S what I'm looking for....collaboration.
Just give me credit (by name/link to my website)...that's all I'm asking for.
No lawsuits.  :)
Like someone else said earlier in this post...I'm not looking to make a living at this...I already do that serving "the man" in the real world....this is just fun for me.

Just don't take it and "steal" it obviously....but if you're serious about collaborating with me, using some of my existing music as a starting point/base....feel free to!
In fact, let me know what you're wanting to do, how I can get ahold of you (via direct email and etc) and I can even get you copies of the original raw/WAV files you can download so you've got higher quality stuff to work with.

Thanks! 

OK RollingThunder.....will do.  :)
Sounds like good advice.  Later tonight probably, I'll delete what I've got and re-upload to individual projects.
Thanks!
Dan