[briffle]

Their are lots of sheets properly licensed that show the notes to play ‘stairway to heaven’. Many intro to guitar books, etc. If I publish myself playing that song without the copyright owners permission (and typically attribution) I am looking at some very, very negative outcomes. The fact that there are many copies correctly licensed (or not) does not obsolve me of anything. Curious how this any different?

[zimpenfish]

> If I publish myself playing that song without the copyright owners permission

Music licensing is bonkers but AFAIR (at least in the UK) I think you're allowed to do covers without explicit permission[1] - you'll have to give the original writers/composers the appropriate share of any money you make.

[1] Which is why you (used to?) get, e.g., supermarkets playing covers of songs rather than the originals because it's cheaper.

[Timwi]

What's the appropriate share?

[zimpenfish]

In the UK, at least, it seemed to depend on several decades of accumulated rules and whatnots that only the PRS understood[1] (but I haven't been involved in anything related to music licensing for a few years and even then it was baffling.)

[1] Things like "was it on the radio or a TV show or a live performance or a recording? who was the composer? which licensing region was it in?" etc.