Originally posted by Michael Jackson's real nose:
That's very amiable of you, fully in keeping with how you seem, Ted, but the basic point is that all agreements are as arranged, not automatic & that potential collaborators need to agree, not presume, before they get to loggerheads.

Originally posted by Tedster:
Everyone's reading too much into this, ...

"You know, I think Mick Jagger took the song and turned it into Miss You. When I was in the studio, the engineer said, "This is a hit song if you just do it faster." He was right, because Miss You is a fast version of my song. I like Mick's record better. I have no ill feelings about it. It could have subconscious on Mick's part or conscious. Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it."

Originally posted by Tedster:
Well, this is actually interesting, and I suppose some other scenarios should be discussed...as to, for instance, how much lyrical contribution someone should have in order to gain credit. Again, I surmise that it's up to the parties in question to agree.

Originally posted by robmix:
If two or more writers work on a song and no prior arrangement was agreed upon they must share ownership equally - regardless of who came up with what.

Originally posted by djwayne:
What if the song loses money ?? Will you help cover the expenses of recording, producing, and marketing it ??

I can hear the guy at the recording studio now, "Oh, you're the one who wrote this song ?? This is your song ?? Well here's YOUR bill !! I have a thousand copies of it that didn't sell, Ya want em ??"

Originally posted by Bill Beeson:
Ah!..But what if the song makes millions?..Will the same logic apply?

Sucess in media software is a team effort.

Originally posted by geekgurl:
Ted, to keep this simple ...

How important was your chord playing in inspiring the song? That is, how fundamental was you effort and creative energy in making it come to be?

If your friend wouldn't have come up with this without you, your friend should give you credit.

Originally posted by Tedster:
Of course, one could take that to the "Chuck Berry inspired a lot of Beatles' songs" end.

I often contribute to lyrics as a producer, fixing some words, helping an artist define the chorus better, etc. but don't ask for credit unless I'm completely rewriting the song. In most cases I don't even bother. But it's a pretty open book. Honestly if someone contributes any lyric they're entitled to a portion of the credit. How much is up to the writers. I've seen writers brought into almost finished songs to write a bridge or rework a chorus and get anywhere from 10% to 25%. Honestly R&B has changed a lot of the rules, many of them unwritten. Today, drum programmers are considered songwriters whereas in the past only melody and lyrics were considered "the song". Copyright law has yet to address this.