Song do's and don'ts

[makroni]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Chicago, Illinois

There's a song named "Light my fire" in it is a phrase that's sang "come on baby light (my) fire." I have a song made up of of different chords but the chorus uses the same chords as the phrase "come on baby light my fire uses, my chorus words are different. I would like to end the song singing to those same chords "come on baby light (this) fire and not come on baby light (my) fire. Other than this my whole song has nothing to do with the light my fire song. My song is not sang in any other melody or similarity that sounds like this song, other than the one part I aked about at the ending which is: "come on baby light this fire". Is ths permissable? Thank you-

 

[justalayman]

well, Vanilla Ice got sued by David Bowie for having the same "beat" in his song as David originally wrote. Listen to Vanilla Ice's Ice, Ice Baby and Bowie's Under Pressure. You will recognize the beat that was the point of the suit.

Nothing else from Bowie;s song was used in Vanilla Ice's song.

The suit was settled out of court but it is generally accepted that had it gone to trial, Ice would have lost.

add the use of the same melody and the same lyric except for one word and yes, you will have problems.

 

[wrongsometimes]

I dont see a problem with this..the song ends with a phrase that is different. Morrison's song had it as a repeating verse. But I can see the other viewpoint too. You could always send a copy of the song to the owner of the Morrison song & see if they have an issue with it; if not, then you are likelt good to go.

 

[Hot Topic]

So, you want a way to disguise the fact that you're using a line from a copyrighted song? Go ahead, but don't be surprised if you're sued. The copyright owner knows what you're doing.

 

[Dave1952]

The song that you are talking about was a major hit. The phrase that you describe was the "hook". Using the same chord progression as the hook? Not a problem. Using similar words may be or maybe not. How about the melody? If you plan to take the words, melody, and chords you will want to get permission.

Good luck

 

[BOR]

well, Vanilla Ice got sued by David Bowie for having the same "beat" in his song as David originally wrote. Listen to Vanilla Ice's Ice, Ice Baby and Bowie's Under Pressure. You will recognize the beat that was the point of the suit.

As an interesting side note, George Harrison was sued because the owners of "He's so fine" claimed copyright infringment when he wrote his "My Sweet Lord".

The 2 are so dissimilar in nature it was a joke suit. I still can't believe someone can claim MSL was an infringment on HSF??

 

[ecmst12]

Just this past summer, Men At Work LOST a multi million dollar lawsuit because the flute hook in "Land Down Under" sounds similar to an australian children's song which the writer may not have even realized he was inspired by but which is apparently still under copywrite.

So go ahead, steal from a dead legend, because that makes you such a genius and no one will care.