by Kalypso on 25 Jul 2007 18:21
[quote="Mercury Rising"]As someone who works with clearance and copyright issues at work I'll take an educated guess.... I don't think it's illegal to post them, but I do think it's illegal to sell them and use them for any other purpose than in reference to the particular concert and tour.
[/quote]
I do too. I am a member of SIAE, the Italian Association for the Protection of Copyright, and Gio, as a musician, will certainly know what I am talking about.
It is illegal to play people's intellectual property in a public place without their permission, and without paying them royalties, until 50 years after the death of the intellectual owner of the copyright, naturally with the heir's permission. After that the material becomes public domain and can be played without problems by anyone.
The issue is the Internet. The laws concerning the Internet are blurry. Obviously if you do post the concert audio and it's good quality,with all your good intentions to share with fellow fans who would never sell it for money, someone will download it and make a bootleg of it, you can bet your life.
It really depends on the position of the musicians on the bootleg issue (The Dead or Chumbawamba didn't give a shit, for instance), but in the case of the Police, I don't think they would be thrilled with people making money behind their backs, especially with an official DVD in sight.
Maybe Gio can ask directly, but I think I know the answer.
"Loa-ded, and ready for a-ction! [wink]"