Hey guys, thank you for coming I'm in the middle to doing a montage for my youtube channel and I need music in it but im not exactly clear on the copyright laws. I already have the song picked out, but i dont know the steps i need to take in order to use it. I have the CD purchased with that song on it, does that enable me to use the song in my video? If not, can you please inform me on what i need to do Thank you for your time, any help is greatly appreciated

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Purchasing the song for a buck only gives you the right to listen to the song in a private setting. You do NOT currently have permission or rights to use the song in your video. To do it legally, you need to actually request permission from the copyright holder (might be the songwriter and/or record label). You can try sending a letter, or look for agencies that handle copyright royalties. I know that's a bummer, but it's the only legal option UNLESS your video is covered under "fair use" provisions (which it probably isn't; trust me.) Good luck!

It's illegal paying for the music gives you the right to listen to it, not ownership of the copyrights http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x128/dargonxtc/Images/fbi_warning.jpg - READ THAT FBI WARNING it states unauthorized reproduction and/or distribution of copyrighted work is illegal. The record label who owns the song - You have no legal authorization from them to do so

If you own a "copy" of a song, you have the right to play it in private or for other exempt purposes, or to sell your copy, or to destroy it, but NOT to publish (upload) electronic copies of it or to make any other copies of it for further distribution. That remains the exclusive right of the copyright owners, i.e., the producers. You would need a sync license to use music in a video. There are online copyright clearinghouses that can give you a quote on just about any use for any music. Alternatively, you can try to find "royalty-free" music that specifically gives you the right to publish online copies of the music, or you may use music that was recorded by employees of the US government, which has no copyright. As a general rule, all music recordings in the USA are copyrighted. Those made prior to 1972 are covered by state laws and those after that are covered by federal copyright law. There is the small possibility that you could find some music recording published between 1972 and 1989 that lacked the necessary copyright notice, making it public domain, but you would still be risking lawsuit if you don't have a license from the publisher.