Re: [pygame] are individual midi instruments sounds copyrighted

[Mel Collins <mel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 As I read it, the linked midiloops.com page is not actually relevant
in your situation. It talks about the MIDI files, which really only
describe the composition. You say yourself that it is your own musical
composition, which means that the copyright belongs to you.
 _However_, there may still be a copyright issue with using the audio
samples which your keyboard outputs - those will most likely be
copyrighted by the manufacturer (ie. Yamaha). I would strongly suggest
that you read through the small-print sections of the keyboard's
manual, specifically the copyright section (you may be able to find
the relevant PDF on the yamaha.com site).
 For example, I found this online, for the Yamaha PSR-E413:

> This product incorporates and bundles computer programs and contents in which
> Yamaha owns copyrights or with respect to which it has license to use othersâ
> copyrights. Such copyrighted materials include, without limitation, all computer
> software, style files, MIDI files, WAVE data, musical scores and sound recordings.
> Any unauthorized use of such programs and contents outside of personal use is
> not permitted under relevant laws. Any violation of copyright has legal
> consequences. DONâT MAKE, DISTRIBUTE OR USE ILLEGAL COPIES.
>
> Copying of the commercially available musical data including but not limited to
> MIDI data and/or audio data is strictly prohibited except for your personal use.

 If your keyboard's manual says something like that ("WAVE data" is
the relevant part in this case), then your recording from the
keyboard's audio-out would indeed be infringing copyright if you
distributed it.

 I would say that your best bet (if you don't want to try negotiating
a licence!) is to just take your MIDI composition and record it using
some libre instrument samples. I know there are several sources for
such online.

 - Mel C
 (IANACLBIPOOTI)