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From: training@rtech.UUCP (Training account)
Newsgroups: net.music,net.legal
Subject: Re: Song rights
Message-ID: <576@rtech.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 10:24:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: rtech.576
Posted: Mon Jul 29 10:24:38 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Aug-85 21:12:09 EDT
References: <1196@sjuvax.UUCP> <423@utastro.UUCP>
Organization: Relational Technology, Alameda CA
Lines: 19
Xref: linus net.music:7419 net.legal:1566

> I have just finished listening to a few songs by Weird Al Yankovick (sp??).
> One was 'I want a new duck' and the other was 'Like a surgeon'. Now I know
> that these songs resemble their popular counterparts in ever respect except
> the words. What are the legal barriers that entertainers/performers like
> these must overcome in order to use another performers song in a seemingly
> strange manner? 

According to an interview with Weird Al Yankovic in SPIN magazine, he has to
get permission from the songwriters for all of his parodies.  He tried to
get permission from Ray Davies for YODA for about four years before he
finally got it.  He also said that when Michael Jackson gave him permission
to do "Eat It", a lot of other performers began letting him parody their
songs.

Also, "Like a Surgeon" was apparently actually Madonna's idea.  She approached
a friend of WAY's about WAY performing the song.

Robert Orestein
Relational Technology