sAMsKi said: "yeeeeeha! um, my only comment so far is...what if the tune is OLD and you want to use a sample or two from the original? (i.e. it's no longer copyright)...i'm easy either way really...you make the rules, i'll stick to them ;)

timeframe sounds very sensible.

good good. x"

Otterfan said: "Those MIDI sites don't close down because it wouldn't profit the copyright owners to go after them.

The royalty schedule set up by compulsory licensing (in the US) is 9.1 cents per download, whether you sell them or give them away. Lawyers use the term "non-commercial" in a different way from real people. It's more like "not for educational use inside a classroom" than "no money involved".

The important thing is that if you aren't rich, no one will go after you for money. Individual rights holders might send cease-and-desist letters, but that's no biggie.

Personally I say go for it--and I'm already working on a Joseph Spence cover, so I think I'm in."