Music remixes for download

[imo]

Hello;

I run a fansite dedicated to a particular artist. My friend makes remixes from this artists music, not for sale or profit. The remixes are made into mp3 files.

I would like to put these mp3 files up for download on my website.

Would this be illegal as he doesnt own the copyrights for the music to be remixing it... and because I would be allowing people to download this music? The music is completely remixed, there is not one track on a remix in its entirity. The website I run is completely non-profit also.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[divgradcurl]

"Would this be illegal as he doesnt own the copyrights for the music to be remixing it... and because I would be allowing people to download this music"

Yes and yes.

What your friend has done by remixing the artist's works is to create an unauthorized derivative work; since control of the creation of derivative works is one of the rights copyright gives you, this is an infringement of the artist's copyright.

BTW, he doesn't need to "own" the copyrights to be legal, but he does need to have a license, or permission, to do be legal.

And for you, you would be engaging in the distribution of the unauthorized derivative works; this could be found to be infringement in 2 ways. First, you would be directly infringing by distributing the author's works without permission. Also, you could be found liable for contributory infringement for helping your friend to infringe,

With the way record companies are going after potential infringers these days, it seems like a bit of a risk to do what you are planning to do. Have you tried to get permission from the copyright owner(s) for what you are doing? May be tough to get, but at least you would be in the right if you did.