Manipulated sound effects copyright

[sigluca]

Hi all,

i'm curently developing an iOS videogame, and i was wondering if heavy manipulated sound effects still retain original copyright.

As an example, can i take an effect from a movie score or an existing videogame (ie a monster yell or an explosion), change pitch, tempo introducing echo and various distortion without Copyright infringement?

Thank you in advance,

sigluca

[SoftmasterG]

Originally Posted by sigluca

Hi all,

i'm curently developing an iOS videogame, and i was wondering if heavy manipulated sound effects still retain original copyright.

As an example, can i take an effect from a movie score or an existing videogame (ie a monster yell or an explosion), change pitch, tempo introducing echo and various distortion without Copyright infringement?

Thank you in advance,

sigluca

You're still infringing. Changing the pitch of a melody doesn't change the melody, changing the intervals of the notes in relationship to each other creates a new melody. If you don't want to pay for the rights to use the music or effect, create (not copy) your own or find a band or musician to create something for you.

[crazygambit]

Originally Posted by SoftmasterG

You're still infringing. Changing the pitch of a melody doesn't change the melody, changing the intervals of the notes in relationship to each other creates a new melody. If you don't want to pay for the rights to use the music or effect, create (not copy) your own or find a band or musician to create something for you.

Or use royalty free sounds.

[sigluca]

Thanks for advice. I've decided to compose music on my own (simple tune, not so hard...)... but for sound effect i've some problem recording explosion, car crash or godzilla-like groan with my microphone

if i record a Star wars creature yell, distorting and adding so many effect to transform pratically in a new effect... it's stilla copyright infringement?


At last, suggestion for royalty free sounds repository?


Thanks again all,

sigluca

[SoftmasterG]

You can buy those sound with minimal amounts of money and they may also be royalty free.

Royalty free doesn't mean you don't pay for it.

[sigluca]

Wandering around i've found many sites offering bundle of royalty free sounds like this

Sound Effect Pack

$37 are very cheap... but i wonder... how can i really be sure that those sounds i bought are royalty free!? How can i verify this sounds are not reselled... some kind of digital watermark or ... ?

How can i trust i site selling me a .wav that this wav is royalty free!?

thanx again,

sigluca

[HemiMG]

The largest free resource is freesound :: home page They have a whole bunch of files, but sometimes finding exactly what you are looking for can be difficult. Be sure to read the license for each file though. All of them are free and royalty free, but some of them will ask for attribution or other restrictions.

[mici]

as long as money changes hands and you have something in writing (that the sounds are royalty-free to use) you have no worries at all, my lawyer told me that. yeah sound effects are very cheap to buy these days

[JasonR]

Your lawyer is probably right that if money changes hands, you have no financial liability, but your app could still be pulled if the person you gave money to did not have the right to the sounds. Admittedly, most of us will never make enough money for anyone to care, but what if you do?