Showing posts with label copyright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label copyright. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Licensing in the Digital Age: Royalty Free Versus Copyright Free

As a creator, I want to produce as much of my own content as I can. There are instances where that idea becomes impossible. Instrumentals is one of those current challenges.

I can write, craft, and publish my cover art, stories, and websites, but sometimes even a creator needs a helping hand. Since I would like to produce meaningful and engaging book trailers and presentations for my Undawnted Channel on YouTube (Please subscribe!), I have endeavored to use other musician's instrumentals to assist me. 

I have read numerous license agreements, and have purchased some music that you have already heard. Still, the royalty and copyright issues are murky at best. You can use X song if you follow these guidelines, royalty free. Yes, but I can use them for my commercial, known as a book trailer? 

The next challenge is: who is being paid for the music? The three songs I have bought so far were paid to one person, not the artist who created the song. So, I went on a fact finding mission to cut out the middleman. I emailed a couple of musicians on a site to see what royalty free means to them, and do I need to buy a lifetime license from them? Important questions. 

In the coming years, I may have to sit down and write a few songs on the computer. Yes, I have written songs in the past. With a grandfather who was a piano tuner and mover, as well as a jazz pianist, music runs in my veins. I spent a year in competitive orchestra and two years in band, playing the violin. When a string instrument was unfavorable to playing in a high school marching band, I opted for four years of choir.

Until my health supports more activity besides editing, reading, and writing, I will continue to be bounced around, uncertain as to how I can use "royalty free music." I rather purchase from the creator to ensure a legal license than using middlemen. I hope that the prices are within my budget. 

I do not want to cheat anyone, but I also like to eat. 

What it comes down to is the fine print. What does it actually say versus how I am interpreting it? 

Legalese, anyone? 

Have a great and wonderful day.

_____

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Wednesday, January 1, 2020

The Art of Chapbook Publication

I am asked often how to make a chapbook. 

Here are some simple steps to make a product with a good production value:
  • Use a word processing software program that is compatible with the creation of pdf's. 
  • Structure your chapbook with front matter, content, and back matter.
    • Front Matter should have informative elements for your reader like:
      • Title page
      • Copyright/Publishing page
      • Table of Contents
    • Contents should be in logical/chronological order with numbering
    • Back Matter should have extras for your reader like:
      • Author biography
      • Thank you
      • Dedication (maybe Front Matter for Print books)
      • Publisher's mark
  • Book design cover art to visually explain your poetry with images instead of words with:
    • Title 
    • Tag line, if applicable 
    • Author's (pen) name
The time and dedication to put all these elements together is necessary to give your audience a complete sense of what message, feeling, or thought you wanted to convey to them. 

Many publishers will charge around $1,000 for their time, original art work, and editing services. 

So if you would like me to do a chapbook for you in pdf format with my original design cover art, editing, layout, and internal design services, please note that I charge a fee. 

Anthologies I usually do for free or a reading fee of $1 per poem/microfiction prose piece. Then I will give the anthology out for free for one day and then begin to charge for my time per chapbook sold.

Considering many people do not buy anthologies, I am usually out my time. 

Thems the breaks. 

So if you would like to hire me to do your chapbook under 50 pages including original artwork, front/back matter and contents. Then set a goal of a $250 to $300 budget. That is with the originator handing in a typo free document. 

Since my original cover art starts out at the $200 price point, poets and writer's are really getting a great deal. If you would like to hire me to accomplish a New Year's goal of a publication credit for 2020, then please go over to my Sonoran Dawn Studios social media page and write me a private message

I take Paypal. 

Thank you!

*****
Please be advised that there is a $50 nonrefundable payment due before any work can begin as to safeguard my time creating a cover design mock up for you. Then you can decide after the mock up if you would like to continue, if you do, then $200 of the overall completed chapbook fee will also be nonrefundable. 

It is unfortunate but I have ran into people who want to see the product before payment only to take the work for themselves and leave me without compensation. It does not happen often but now I put in barriers to those individuals who have dishonorable intentions. 

Thank you for your understanding. 



Friday, October 28, 2016

Copyright of Corporate Greed

Information about a certain science fiction franchise that was going after fans for fan fiction and fan videos struck a cord with me. 

As a poet and author of original concepts, characters, and works, I am concerned about overreaching fandom and even outright theft. As a fan of many speculative fiction, fantasy, and horror franchises, I must also weigh the good with the bad. What is and is not considered fandom?

Fandom that is good natured is not out to get corporate profits; it is out to make the franchise eternal. That is what corporations forget in their bid to take over the intellectual property rights of the entire world. The copyright laws here in the United States have been changed, changed, and changed again to accommodate the rights of large companies. In this manner, corporate greed instead of being a positive member of society has erased any type of creativity. 

Many franchises would be dead or non-rebootable if it were not for the fandom. Then where would corporate profits be? Corporations are cutting off their nose despite their face. 

Fandom must also realize that if corporations are so hell bent on locking down all creative ventures then why are we supporting that type of dishonesty? 

Fandom needs to realize that independent authors and creators offer another avenue for creativity: actual originality.  It may not be the old standbys: Star Trek, Star Wars, or whatever is en vogue at the time, but at least the smaller independents will appreciate fandom that is supportive. 

As fans and creators, we must support one another financially as well as emotionally. We must also start a movement to change copyright laws to include everyone, not just corporate monopolies and profits. If we don't, what will be left in a few decades for us to create when all public domain is locked away?  

I think the key is to stop patronizing with money and fandom those franchises that treat their fans like criminals. 

Fandom may not be perfect, but we are not out to "thieve" anything if it is in the spirit of cooperation that is mutually beneficial to the life of a franchise.


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Copyright Overload

I was researching information for a daily minder I created for my personal use. 

Holy moly, people. Some bloggers and webmasters take their writings a little too seriously. I ran into locations that forbade me from even copying and pasting for my own personal use, not to mention websites that disabled right-click as well. 

Excuse you? 

I just did another search and found someone with the same information but was not threatening me over it. I only wanted astrological signs. That was from a Ph.D. too! 

People should realize what the copyright laws are and are not. Copyright laws should never limit information. Especially, no one has the right to limit common information. Common information is data in the public domain. 

What can people see, feel, touch, and taste? The stars, planets, moon, sun are public. Constellations are public. Colors and their meanings are public, Flowers, trees, and other foliage are public. Herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, meats are public, The different animals are public. Anything paid for with tax money like government studies, photos are public. 

When I write an essay, I use the educational and informational aspects of copyright to cite each of my sources. What I have been running into are people who do not allow others to use their work in a legal and educational manner. 

To me that is affront to the nature of knowledge. If you do not want the public to readily access your intellectual property like poetry, fiction stories, or researched essays, then put those works into books, booklets, and add an ISBN and copyright license to your pieces. It is that simple. 

When people threaten others to read but not touch their websites and blogs, I leave and never return.  That is carrying copyright to a dangerous and albeit ineffectual level. You have knowledge? Then share it! 

But if you are sharing public knowledge without any intellectual creativity that would make that information your own property and telling people its not theirs to take.. well, I have news for you: it's not yours to begin with either! 

If you cannot share like good girls and boys, then why do you have a website or blog? Intellectual property cannot be claimed on public knowledge or information. Creativity can be.

For others who believe everything on a website or blog is free for the taking, not so fast. Everything created and written is under copyright protection. If you want to use something, ask permission first if you are not going to cite the information under MLA or APA styles. As well, research public domain for copyright and royalty free images, photos, and information. 

As for common knowledge, I guess humanity needs to have a talk about what is considered fair use and what is considered intellectual property since some people think whatever is published on the internet is theirs for the taking as well as the converse where some people feel that everything they publish online is so sacred that no one is allowed to use it. 

We need to restore a common sense balance in order to advance human creative and intellectual potential.

Thank you!

Have a great and wonderful day.



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