Genos / Dedicated Styles

[Mike2]

There are a few dedicated styles for the Genos.  One that is very close to the real song, is "I just called To Say I Love You" and others like, "Something Stupid" a few more.  My question is, are these dedicated styles in demand, and are there any copy write laws to prevent certain styles to represent certain Artist original songs. I am a Beatle freak, as their music is very unique, especially the bass and rhythm.  I can play many of their songs, but the dedicated styles would be great.  Not for just the Beatles, but many other song Artist as well.

[EileenL]

There is nothing to stop you using these styles in your keyboard performances. The problem arises if you have purchased the styles and then give them away as when you purchase you agree they are for your own use only.

[Lee Batchelor]

Eileen, is it possible that the dedicated styles that Yamaha creates, represent songs that are now in the public domain - free from copyright violation? Hence, why Yamaha can produce them without fear of copyright violation? I know Yamaha would really do their homework on this .

[DerekA]

The very first style on the Genos - SkyPop - is very clearly Coldplay's "A Sky Full Of Stars". That song itself must be copyright. So I do wonder how they get away with such a recognisable backing pattern.

[Lee Batchelor]

Good point, Derek. The world of copyrights in music is full of trap doors. I once heard that if you record and sell a song with even the slightest alteration from the original score, you could get away with it. If the originator took you to court, he or she might win if the judge thinks you haven't altered the original enough to not pass off as something else. It sounds all very subjective to me .

[DrakeM]

These "dedicated styles" that I know for covering Country songs are always off just a bit, but are close enough the average listener would not notice. And most of the time not all the needed Main parts are there in the style to perform the song as on the record. But I have always been able to create the missing section and stick it into one of the mains to do the song. 

The styles for If You Love Me Let Me Know, Chattahoochee, I Love A Rainy Night, Key Largo and Ghostbusters are all almost perfect.

I would not prefer having more of these type of styles but instead more random styles BUT I would rather have a much BETTER "style creator" placed with in the keyboard.

Regards
Drake

[EileenL]

It is more the song than the style that can get you into trouble. If you notice when Yamaha do Demo's or put the song demo's on keyboards they are never the correct song they play. This keeps them out of trouble. When playing out most venues will have an entertainment licence which will cover the cost of royalties. As I said copy write to the producer of the style will be broken if you give these away or post on forums or try to resell them. They are sold to you for your own use only.

[mikf]

As Eileen says it is not likely that just making a style would infringe copyright of a song. But then the style itself could be covered by separate copyright. You can copyright a wide variety of things, an arrangement for example. Just playing a song would not be copyright infringement, there has to be some gain involved or something that can be considered a loss for the copyright holder.
Mike

[jdup]

Drake, what is the Style name for "Key Largo", please? I cannot figure it out.

Thanks.

Jim Duprey

[DrakeM]

Jim

I don't recall it's name. It was from one the older keyboards and I just came across it while looking for parts to create another custom style. I played the intro and knew it was a song that had the words Key Largo in it. Lucky for me that was the name of the song.

Otherwise I would have just moved on as it wasn't a country tune. I can send you the style I use to do the song but I am sure I have tweaked it from its original form.

[jdup]

Ok. Thanks.

Jim

[Mike2]

I cannot figure out what gain anyone would have with copy write laws in this troubled world with everything going on, but WW3.
Would they be so stupid not to recognize that we are just enjoying our keyboard. We're no threat to anyone. What would be the gain for someone who would so called, copy right,  maybe $200 dollars a month.  I say to these rich people, get a life!

[mikf]

 Without intellectual protection like copyright the music creations of people like the Beatles and Stevie Wonder would be worthless. Or Yamaha for that matter. That's multi millions.
People don't take on lawsuits for trivial amounts like a few hundred or even thousand. And in any case just entertaining yourself and friends at home doesn't infringe copyrights anyway. Nothing to be concerned about. What we don't want is to make a habit of passing  copyrighted material around our website in case that brings problems.
Mike

[EileenL]

Hi Mike 2
I suppose an example would be if someone set up a business to produce good quality styles at say £4 each. If you bought it and then gave it to all your friends and they gave it to all there's that business in no time has lost all those takings which give him a living and his staff if he employs people. Come on you can't expect everything for nothing

[Mike2]

If the styles are manufactured I do not have any problems paying for them. But when I buy a Keyboard from Yamaha, with dedicated styles, than it's on Yamaha. I paid for the Keyboard which supplied dedicated styles, sort of speak. Like Eileen said, they are not exactly like the song, which is perfectly fine with me.  There are quite a few styles, like Johnny Be Good, and many others, that one can tell which song that style is leaning towards.

[mikf]

When you buy a keyboard from Yamaha that gives you right to play all the onboard styles anytime, anywhere. But it wouldn't give you the right to copy them all and sell them. I'm really not sure where you see the problem.
I think you are getting confused between the style and the recording of the song it might try to emulate. They are separate entities.
Mike

[Mike2]

There...Now...It's been said!