Paul Klusman 2 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Hello my name is Paul Klusman I'm known for a series of cat videos on YouTube starting with "An Engineer's Guide to Cats" and others. I'm working on a cat video of Star Wars ep. IV A New Hope and I need to contact Mr. John Williams for permission to use his composition in my video. I'm not using the original theatrical recordings but instead I am singing - "meowing" the melodies and using it as underlying music in my video. I would like to use the exact melodies rather than skewing them as a parody. I know this is a long shot but does anyone have a way to contact Mr Williams quickly? The video is nearly done and I'd like to release it on YouTube in a week or so. Thanks so much, Paul Klusman Xinau 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Skelly 261 Posted November 2, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted November 2, 2017 I think it would be safe to say that neither Williams nor the copyright holders would mind if people meow their music in public. bollemanneke, John, Bespin and 3 others 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Klusman 2 Posted November 2, 2017 Author Share Posted November 2, 2017 If I sing the exact melody of John William's composition and then publish it on YouTube I do technically need copyright clearance for performance of the original composition. I've got 18 million views on my YouTube page so I do need to be careful about copyright claims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,647 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Your safest bet is to contact Williams' management http://www.jwfan.com/?page_id=235 Mr. John Williams Gorfaine / Schwartz Agency 4111 W. Alameda Avenue Suite 509 Burbank, California 91505 USA I don't think you're going to get an audience with the composer himself, unless you show up at his front door playing a trumpet like those YouTube kids last year. He's also likely not the rightsholder of the Star Wars main title, so maybe try to get in touch with Disney/LFL as well. Best of luck re: cats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricard 2,242 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Hi Paul, welcome to the forums. In order to ask for permission to use any of John Williams compositions, you should contact BMI, who manage the rights of Mr. Williams' works: https://www.bmi.com/licensing http://www.bmi.com/about/entry/contact_us_music_licensing Good luck! mstrox 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,471 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Ha, ha...what a bizarre project. But good luck, man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Klusman 2 Posted November 2, 2017 Author Share Posted November 2, 2017 59 minutes ago, Ricard said: Hi Paul, welcome to the forums. In order to ask for permission to use any of John Williams compositions, you should contact BMI, who manage the rights of Mr. Williams' works: https://www.bmi.com/licensing http://www.bmi.com/about/entry/contact_us_music_licensing Good luck! Unfortunately BMI does not offer synchronization licensing for use in videos, films, games, etc. I tracked down the music publisher as Bantha Music administered by Warner Chappel so I'll contact them. Thanks folks! Paul 22 minutes ago, Thor said: Ha, ha...what a bizarre project. But good luck, man! It is bizarre. Wait 'till you see it! I should have it online in a week or two so stay tuned! Ricard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeallen01 2,133 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Bilbo and gkgyver 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 Larry's not white. Larry's clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 4,891 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 This is the most bizarre post I've seen this week. And it's not even by Skyy38! (Unless he made another account...) John and crumbs 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt S. 493 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 18 million views on your cat videos? It's not a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 2,903 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 On 11/2/2017 at 11:15 AM, Paul Klusman said: Unfortunately BMI does not offer synchronization licensing for use in videos, films, games, etc. I tracked down the music publisher as Bantha Music administered by Warner Chappel so I'll contact them. Thanks folks! Paul It is bizarre. Wait 'till you see it! I should have it online in a week or two so stay tuned! You do know there is a publisher share who owns the sheet music and a writer who owns the creative share, right? This stuff gets very complicated because you might need permission from multiple sources (including some who are very protective of the material and it's use - e.g. Disney or JW) or you might not need permission at all if this is parody which falls under "fair use" rules as long as it isn't using the original recording. It gets more complicated because the law has slight differentiation between parody and satire rules of quoting music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 4,891 Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 I've never seen someone go to such bizarre lengths just to get copyright permission for a f**king cat video. WTF is happening to these forums... Bilbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted November 18, 2017 Share Posted November 18, 2017 It's just movie background music no-one cares about or remembers. It's not like it's the latest Top 40 that's being illegally downloaded to death. I'm sure the studios won't care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkgyver 1,645 Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Another proof that humanity has run out of purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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