[HANASHIR:13769] Copyright and Parodies

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

Copying the music is a problem whether the words are original or parodied.  
Yes, you should have the original music.

I don't think parodied lyrics are a legal problem in and of themselves as 
long as you're not selling the results.  If you do want to sell the results, 
then you also need to 'parody' the melody so that it's substantially 
different from the original.  For a modern day example, see Animaniacs by 
Steven Spielberg.  When they parody Andrew Lloyd Weber (It's called "Cats of 
Phantom Boulevard", I believe) they change the melodies so that they don't 
violate their rights or need to get permission.

And, thanks to Adrian for posting those Purim parodies (although I must admit 
I have yet to discover the Purim tie-in of  A Whole New World or the first 
verse of If I had a Siddur, and Sharona's song states that it isn't a 
parody).  


Michael

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