Parody and covers are fine but when you steal actual audio you really need permission or be prepared to pay in perpetuity for the theft. RIAA really needs to go after him for piracy.
Parody is fine. Covers are a legal grey area (in U.S. law anyway). You probably won’t get in trouble if you’re a act performing a cover of I Feel Love at a live event, but if you’re going to sell a recording of the cover without a mechanical license, you could very well face legal trouble- even that is in a grey area because digital platforms like Apple Music automatically pay the publishers if you sell a cover through them and publishers seem satisfied with that arrangement. Even performing on a streaming platform like YouTube technically requires a synchronization license, although, again, YouTube often pays publishers a cut of advertising revenue.
As I said above, performing a cover live generally won’t get you in trouble, but tribute bands are another story. If you want to do a Donna Summer tribute band and you don’t get legal permission, your ass is going to get sued.
Parody and covers are fine but when you steal actual audio you really need permission or be prepared to pay in perpetuity for the theft. RIAA really needs to go after him for piracy.
Parody is fine. Covers are a legal grey area (in U.S. law anyway). You probably won’t get in trouble if you’re a act performing a cover of I Feel Love at a live event, but if you’re going to sell a recording of the cover without a mechanical license, you could very well face legal trouble- even that is in a grey area because digital platforms like Apple Music automatically pay the publishers if you sell a cover through them and publishers seem satisfied with that arrangement. Even performing on a streaming platform like YouTube technically requires a synchronization license, although, again, YouTube often pays publishers a cut of advertising revenue.
As I said above, performing a cover live generally won’t get you in trouble, but tribute bands are another story. If you want to do a Donna Summer tribute band and you don’t get legal permission, your ass is going to get sued.