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Posted Nov 27th, 2011
Is it legal to create a video piano lesson teaching someone how to play a popular song, upload it to
YouTube, and monetize it with ads?

Additional Details:
Might this fall under the fair use provision of copyright law?
Legal Topic Area: Intellectual Property in MA

It depends on whether the song is still subject to copyright protection. You noted it is a popular song, so assume it is subject to copyright. The use might be considered fair use if it was a parody or was posted without seeking to make any money. Based on the scenario you have outlined, you are seeking to profit from it and thus would likely be an infringement of the copyright in the work, assuming it is still subject to copyright,


Answered on Nov 27th, 2011 at 1:08pm