Are they? I see so many websites for these files on the net, and no one seems to be shutting them down. They are so commonplace, even with the introduction of MP3s. What's the scoop? I'm figuring some of the forum administrators might know this.

They're 100% legal, because they are recreations of the original songs. They aren't the ACTUAL song, so it's OK. (It's like Weird Al using the tune for a song and changing the words)

Technically, if you were to completely redo a song yourself in MP3 format, it'd be legal, even if it used the same notes.

Wow. That's true about using the same notes. I remember Little Richard sued John Fogerty for a song that sounded exactly like his, but Fogerty won. Pretty cool. So the true question is, are your songs REALLY your own, or public domain if someone else sings them? Intersting blur of copyright bounderies.

I believe if even one note is different, or timing, or anything, it's considered a different song.

I think they do this so that someone can't copyright say, a 5 note scale, and then demand royalties every time someone else has a 5 note scale in their song.

That sounds familiar... didn't metallica or some other group sue someone for using some of the same scales as one of their songs not too long ago?

that aint their website. if you looked at the url and not the title of the webpage, that would be plainly obvious.

also, noone in their right mind would sue over someone else using something only associated with them selves, but they don't own.

one of these days i'm gonna write a song in one band... and rip it off completely in another band... then sue myself

Wait...if MIDIs are legal, wouldn't MP3's? I've found most CDs have their songs in .wav or whatever, not .mp3 and a CD of my mom's had this funky .cd or something like that.

Hmm, I wonder if anyone's tried using that defense in court: "It's not the same song because some of the information isn't there!"

And then show pictures of the waveforms from the .mp3 and the .wav to prove that they are different.

Dude! That would be /so/ awesome.

If I get sued for ah.. liberating music.. will you be my defense attourney?

I'm so awesome as a 13 year old. I just legalized all music piracy.

No, ripping an mp3 from a CD is not the same as recreating the song in MIDI format. In the first instance, you are converting the original recording; in the second, you're recording a cover version of the original song. If you were to sell that MIDI you'd be required to pay royalties to the composer I guess, but I don't think you could be said to be violating the copyright of the recording.

Anyone who'd actually PAY MONEY for a Midi doesn't deserve to own an iPod, so seriously, I doubt it's an issue. :p

midi is not an actual recording, it is basicly sheet music that goes into your midi driver, has the data channels turned into sound based on what instrument the channel is set to.

mp3s, wavs, and .cds are all direct recordings of the music.

midis are legal because all the notes will be the perfect length, the music as played will have all the subtle nuances that make it unique.