If I post a cover of a copyrighted song on youtube, does that violate copyright law?
816963
Yes, unless you or YouTube have a license.
604678
It is possibly and probably illegal, although it depends on what you're taking. Regardless of whether or not there's a copyright notice, the text of the website is copyright of the author of the text or owner of the site. There is a fair use exception to copyright; again, that gets into the amount and substantiality of what you're taking. Giving credit to the original author doesn't matter if you're infringing; it's still infringement.\n\nHere's a link about the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, which explains more about some of the issues involved: \nhttp://www.keytlaw.com/Copyrights/dmca.htm
185806
The RIAA may not own the rights to the songs and thus may not be able to sue you, but that doesn't magically make it legal.  It's still just as illegal, you're just less likely to get caught.
1028272
it's told that It's illegal that someone uploads your music but apparently it is not against the law to download music. i advice you to use Ares, It's the best but don't let people download yours.
46165
I'm not a lawyer.  This is not legal advice.  Consult a lawyer for specifics.  \n\nRegarding copyright symbol - circle-C:  \n\nNo, it doesn't violate any law to use it without registration.  \n\nEvery original artwork (visual, language, music, perhaps even genetic and a few other media I know nothing about) you create is protected by copyright law from the moment of creation, regardless of whether you register it with the copyright office.  However enforcement is easier, and civil penalties for infringement are higher, if you have registered prior to any act of infringement...  \n\n...Unless you expressly relinquish some or all of your intellectual property rights by writing:  "This work is in the public domain," or "This work is protected by Creative Commons Deed 2.5 (or whatever version is current)."  \n\nProfessor Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School is worth reading; his blog is listed below.  \n\nTrademark?  Check out the USPTO website in an earlier answer.
384746
NO! Unless they have specific permission from the source website this is considered stealing and is a breach of the copyright that is more then likely on this media. Getting media from anywhere and calling it your own no matter where or from who without permission is wrong and unethical. Not only that but it is an illegal activity.
1058343
Yes, it's illegal, as a copyright violation. You cannot (legally) electronically duplicate anything that you do not own the copyright to.
698733
I think you have to download it.\nThere are also certain graphics sites that already have the song and have gotten permission. You have to copy the HTML code which I believe is already shown.
428128
No, it is not illegal.  It is called "fair use".  It would only be illegal if the amount of material reproduced was significant in relation to the whole.  Ten seconds out of two hours would not be a significant enough portion to cause harm to the copyright holder.  Also, if the material was used to illustrate a point within a larger work, such as, copying a paragraph from a book in another book where the first one is used as a reference or to support an argument.  You do not need permission.\n\nYou can look up the entire Fair Use Clause at the US Copyright Office online.
36953
Yes, as long as you don't upload copyrighted material.
122660
It is illegal to download copyright songs (these are what you would normally pay for at Walmart or Sam Goody).  These songs are available, but it is illegal to download them (somewhat unlikely that you'll get caught, but that's a different story).\n\nYour best bet if you want free music is to simply do a search on Google for the song you want in quotes + "music code"\n\nFor example, to find "My Humps" by Black Eyed Peas, search for \n\n"My Humps" "music code" "black eyed peas"\n\nYou can watch the music video, listen to the song, all for free, and best of all it's legal.  You'll find most songs that way except old songs or rare ones.
804312
No that is illegal. And why would you post such a question when the RIAA has announced they are monitoring such forums as this, in order to prosecute more people for music piracy? Copyright infringement carries large fines, it is much cheaper for you to buy the music you want. More honest also.\nWhy would you want to steal from others.\nContribute to society, don't leech off of it.
718596
No, but one work around is using a program like Paint Shop Pro which has a "screen capture" feature thus avoiding the copyright issue.
1186870
Obvious parody. If they don't get the hunour then they are wound too tight. Fair use says you can parody anyone's work without their permission. You aren't passing his work off as your own. What a bunch of dips**ts.
90468
If you are not distributing the material publicly, nobody will say anything. However new artists can't expect to be signed unless they demo original material, from what I've seen. Anyone can do covers, and unless you're doing them on American Idol, you really can't expect to make any headway with it, unless your interpretation is really different and better than the original (i.e. the way Joe Cocker redid "With a little Help from My Friends")\n\nWrite your own stuff - either yourself or with a partner. Your odds, though still long, will be a lot better.
763260
Depends on the site you post on. Technically you should own your own material, be it writing or photos. However, some site will take copyright ownership if you agree to their terms of service.\n\nThe quote you list above would tend to indicate that the user retains his/her rights over the material posted. \n\nBTW, I think everything posted on Y!A is owned by Y!A.
583574
Yes.\n\nhttp://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/