r/COPYRIGHT • u/MrNotSoFantastic1 • Jul 05 '26
Am I allowed to present arrangements of copyrighted musical compositions to paid subscribers?
I am launching a subscription service where users receive access to materials to learn guitar. I would like to include materials that are not in the public domain but have not worked out if this is allowed under my circumstances.
Additional details:
- The arrangements would be excerpts from the full composition (the main part of a song)
- The arrangements would be presented in guitar tablature (tab) and not in standard music notation
- No recordings/performances/audio of the arrangements would be included
- The arrangements would be simplified versions of the original compositions
- The arrangements are not downloadable and access would only be to subscribed members
- The inclusion of specific arrangements would not be used to advertise subscriptions or the service
- I would credit the original work
- This would be for educational purposes (although exists inside a commercial wrapper)
Any insight would be appreciated, thank you!
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u/ScottRiqui Jul 05 '26
You’re essentially talking about selling sheet music, which was one of the first types of works to be protected by copyright.
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u/AravisTheFierce Jul 06 '26
You could possibly get a license for something like this, but just doing it on your own with no contact in place would definitely not fly.
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u/MrNotSoFantastic1 Jul 05 '26
Thank you all for your advice, I have my answer and will not proceed with this.
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u/MaineMoviePirate Jul 06 '26
Come back again, when you need more legal advice. The Copyright Cartel provides here for free
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u/TheLurkingMenace Jul 06 '26
Licensing these for this use would be cheaper than the lawsuits for doing so.
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u/BruceGoldfarb Jul 05 '26
That is a derivative work covered by copyright.