If I were to start a business where I compile video presentations, would I need to pay for royalties to use the music even though its the customers music and its for private use? If anyone knows where a more qualified place to ask this, can you point me in that direction? Thanks.
to be completely legal, yes; to be on a big scale, yes; however, for small-scale stuff, i wouldn't worry too much. but then again, dead grandmothers have been sued in recent years for lesser violations.
Ok, do you have any idea how to go about doing that or somewhere where I can ask? I dont want to go directly to the record companies with some info or I might get screwed.
i recommend actually seeking legal counsel. a good business lawyer or someone that really knows the law in your area.
unless you have a friend in the legal trade, be prepared to pay a fee. as they say, you have to spend money to make money, and such advisement fees should be included in the startup money of any small business.
depending on a variety of conditions, not the least of which are the extent of the advice and papers drawn, somewhere between $50 and $1000 US.
it's more than just looking through laws. to stay lawsuit free, i can give you a 99% guarantee right now that you are going to have to pay some sort of royalties. a lawyer will serve as a professional go-between between you and the record companies you will have to deal with. any record label's music you use will be owed royalties by you. if you want to go into a business where such risk is involved, good legal counsel is a requirement.
I know im going to have to pay royalties but Im 16, no job, and little money that is reserved for personal use such as college, car etc. So as you can see, I dont have money for professional legal support/advise. Do you think I could deal directly with the record companies to do a song by song deal(meaning I pay royalties by the song)?
oh pfffff. you're 16? you're a minor! you can get away with murder...literally. i'd just do the business on a small scale. if it starts growing, you should gain the funds for legal counsel and turn it into a real business. if not, you have a small, taxless source of income. just don't advertise too much and keep the customer base as a group of people not out to get others sued and you'll be fine.
Ya, problem with that. Im 16 but I know if I do this someone will sue me because I have horrible luck. I want to pay the royalties just to cover my butt. I need to know how to go about doing that without leaving my butt out where it can get sued but not get screwed by the record companies and their big lawers(er, however you spell that*rolls eyes*). Basically, I want to not get screwed/not get sued.
without a lawyer, you're gonna get screwed. and a lawyer isn't cheap, and thus isn't worth it unless you're going to a relatively large scale business. just watch your ass and you'll be okay. i made a very nice sum of money doin' far worse, selling wares through my old high school...be smart and you'll be fine.
I cant monitor who sees my adds which I need to get customers. Do you think I could get a small business government grant or am I to young? If so, can I use it for legal stuff if someone does try to sue me?
ads? just do word-of-mouth advertising. maybe do some stuff for school events or whatnot. you're not going to get any kind of grant as a minor.
1.) do a few goodies for friends and let them spread the word themselves, making recommendations to people they know who need the same services. 2.) no...a minor will not get any government business grants. they're saved mostly for middle-aged immigrant males and minority females (i know someone's gonna call me racist, but it's true, at least in my area).
