[eu-gene] Psst...Wanna Buy an Algorithm? (Working Title)

[Paul Brown]

I agree that where instructions are written down this effectively
becomes the notation for the piece and therefore the music produced is
copyrightable whether or not it is the same each time it is performed. 

Computer generated algorithms are copyrightable as are computer
programmes where the owner becomes the "person by whom the arrangements
necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken". I do not know of
an infrastructure that exists that can manage the distribution of
algorithms though in a similar way to music. 



-----Original Message-----
From: eu-gene-bounces at generative.net
[mailto:eu-gene-bounces at generative.net] On Behalf Of Ti Bo
Sent: 14 October 2005 16:11
To: generative art
Subject: Re: [eu-gene] Psst...Wanna Buy an Algorithm? (Working Title)


Interesting point about royalties.

But all pieces of music are not completely defined. My understanding
of some modern pieces is that they include "make the sound of the 
universe
sighing" as part of the notation. Still the piece is a "real" piece of
music. All pieces of music include only indications, it is impossible 
to include
a complete description of a piece of music, or, on the other hand, a 
too-complete description
leads to some performances being another piece!
For many generative pieces, at least those that are code based rather
than mechanical, there is a written description. So it is arguable that 
the
written description (algorithm or what have you) is notation in some 
standard sense
and thus a copyright applies.

maybe this begins to fall into "patenting algorithms" territory, but I 
think
that even there, copyright can be used on code (someone else can 
implement the
algorithm again and not infringe copyright because there is no patent 
(at least
in the civilised parts of the world))...

Or have I missed some important point about copyright...

tm


On Oct 14, 2005, at 4:35 PM, Paul Brown wrote:

> Thanks for the correction to my grammatical slip up. You are, of 
> course,
> right.
> In answer to your question, because if the music generated by the
music
> system is not fixed, i.e. recorded or written down in some form, no
> copyright exists in it. Because there is no copyright within the music
> created it falls out of the jurisdiction of performing, mechanical and
> phonographic right societies. They cannot pay royalties out on titles
> that have no copyright ownership on them.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: eu-gene-bounces at generative.net
> [mailto:eu-gene-bounces at generative.net] On Behalf Of Ti Bo
> Sent: 14 October 2005 14:35
> To: generative art
> Subject: Re: [eu-gene] Psst...Wanna Buy an Algorithm? (Working Title)
>
>
> On Oct 14, 2005, at 3:05 PM, Paul Brown wrote:
>
>>
>
> Q: why is there no royalties on generated music?
>
> Note: "effects" rather than "affects" in the title
>
> interesting....
>
> tim
>
> -- 
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>
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