Quote - lyric licenses?

[GC1pink]

Hello all

may I ask wher you get your merchandise licence agreements when you want to use quotes or lyrics on merchandise only in the UK please?

could someone advise?

Thank you

[webtrekker]

Any lyrics over 70 years old (ie. Pre-1948) are fair game. Others will usually be copyright and you need to approach the publisher, not the author(s).

[socialgiraffe]

Others will usually be copyright and you need to approach the publisher, not the author(s).

you need to approach the owner of the copyright or whoever has the licence agreement. Normally for most popular music artists will be a specialist merchandiser.

As a side issue and little story, I just finished a load of stuff for Abbey Road Studios. Some of the merch had photographs of their front building including the wall which is heavily graffitti'd. So much so that it is painted every month. People put song lyrics on there, predominantly The Beatles for obvious reasons. Because there are so many song lyrics it costs the studios a fortune if they use it on merchandise. Even if you can not read the actual lyric because it is reproduced so small!

[GC1pink]

Thanks, so can I just clarify, if I wanted to use 50 different lyrics I would need 50 different licences? I can't seem to find anywhere on line that you can order a simple licence, pay for it and download it, you need to fill in a form for every single one and wait weeks.

there are loads of people on Etsy selling Lyrics, have they then all paid for each one? and what if you offer a custom service where you make a print using a lyric you don't have a licence for do you then have to go and get one and wait 2 weeks? I know there is a blanket licence for radio stations is there not such a thing for retailers who wish to create merchandise? I don't want and will not do things illegally I want to grow my business honestly and ethically, but heavens above they don't make it easy for you.

ooh have to be honest its getting me all confuddled.

all help appreciated please.

[webtrekker]

Try contacting MPA for guidance - https://mpaonline.org.uk

[socialgiraffe]

The problem is that you are trying to copy "art". The words in a song are considered by many the same as a painting. Personally I agree with that and I can see why someone would want to protect their lyrics, in much the same way you would be a bit peeved if you had an idea/design/product that many others copied without any financial compensation to you.

It is not in Etsy, Ebay Amazon's interest to pull up these sellers for copyright infringement as it would mean losing money for them. Instead they pay a lip service to the law by targeting the occasional few while the many slip right by. Its wrong and disgusting but it is what it is.

The other thing to note is that there are many companies that have interests in "merchandise" when it comes to songs/music. There is the artist, the song writer, the record label, the management company, the official merchandiser... Shall I continue So it will never be easy or cheap to get something like this unless you are an established merchandising company.

[GC1pink]

Dear Social Giraffe,

I concur with you that lyrics are art and thus should be protected and you should have to pay a fee, I absolutely do not have a problem with that, as a published children's author myself I would be outraged if someone reused my own property without permission or payment.
My issue is that it seems so difficult to obtain simple lyric licences online in a timely manner - there seems to be no facility for that. The same for branded images and slogans.

May I ask the rest of the community how do you get all your images and text for your commercial merchandise - although the majority of my work is created by myself in its entirety I am however aware that there are large gaps in the market for already branded items such as Disney, car brands, images etc.

best

Pink

[GoonerGary]

If you are seeing these lyrics on Etsy/ NOTHS, they are most likely used without permission. As soon as your list your 'Favourite Beatles Lyrics' Mug, it will eventually get pulled for copyright/ trademark infringement. Or you'll maybe get a legal letter through your door. Some online sellers who thought they could blissfully sell what they want will get a short sharp shock one day.....

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2018/0 ... s-lawsuit/

[socialgiraffe]

Hi Pink. Yep, it’s a minefield, particularly when it comes to the music industry as there are so many people/companies that are involved.

As someone who works in this industry I find it bizarre, I have even had two companies, both owned by the same parent company, both bidding on the same artist who is on a label which again is owned by the same parent company. Guess what, a third outside company won the business!

If you have ideas that you want turning into commercially useable images etc you could try fiverr.


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