Using an iPad

[Stryk]

I put all of my band and church orchestra music on my iPad for convenience and it makes it easier to read. I am now playing in a professional group that rents much of it's music. Is it legal to put that music on my iPad or does that break copyright laws?

[ronr]

I’ve used an iPad for music since they first came out, including copying show books onto it. Never had a whiff of trouble, but YMMV.

[Inkin]

I do it too, but I'm pretty sure technically it is illegal.

There isn't really a personal use concept except for education and criticism. So putting rented music in ForScore and having it forever and giving back the rented music is technically illegal. But it sure won't be worth anyone's time to do anything about it.

I rationalize it internally by thinking that there is no way a single tuba music copy sitting on my iPad is going to allow anyone to perform that piece that otherwise wasn't paying for it. I'm not going to sell my copy, though I have at times freely sent things to others privately who have asked when they wanted to play ahead or were in a bind and I had something scanned already. I'm not going to not buy something from the publisher because I already have the tuba part scanned, so they aren't losing money.

At the start when I used too much money to get the large iPad and a bluetooth page turner, I rationalized that I'd be able to practice more easily and more varied things and think of how much better I'd get. Realistically, I just use it for what is programmed where my iPad is replacing a folder that is also in my bag in case I need it. When something gets programmed again that I already have, I'm just happy to not have to scan it in.

So I don't know. It probably is technically illegal, but I don't feel like I'm hurting anyone by it so I do it. Maybe if I were collecting solos or etude books from others I'd be actually hurting the publisher, but I'm not doing that. So I don't feel bad about it.

[the elephant]

This is (indirectly) legal for purchased music but is illegal for rentals unless a fee is paid to the rental agency. When you rent, the price is based on how many of each original part you need. To them, an electronic copy is the same as if you had ordered an additional hard copy.

Now, in Real World practice, I have never heard of anyone getting in trouble for doing this. I would think it is safe to do, so long as no one from the rental agency shows up to a service to check up on the ensemble's compliance with the rental agreement. If the ensemble has been busted for anything, at all, ever, by the rental agency this can (and does) happen. If the group has never had an issue then no one will be snooping around to see such violations as an iPad with their property on it.

If you use it and then DELETE the copy (or at least never share it) you are probably good. I have heard of individual exceptions being made for parts to be blown up for instrumentalists who are elderly and can no longer see the printed parts well enough. Perhaps the zoom function of the iPad and its backlit screen could be used as a reason, plus feigning ignorance, to keep the copyright dogs at bay.

I would probably do it without fear, to be honest. Just do not talk about it online very much; one or two of these companies are known to actually surf places like this one in search of violators.

[Stryk]

Just do not talk about it online very much; one or two of these companies are known to actually surf places like this one in search of violators.

This could be why I'm not getting many responses. I am in the clear with church music, because it is bought as an eFile for printing as needed. The community band music is just band owned arrangements and I also have the paper part in my possession - so perhaps technically not quite within the letter of the law, probably within the intent of the law.. I am just not clear about rented parts as long as they are deleted after the performance. Likely not technically legal, but also likely not pursued, either. I won't take any chances, but was just seeing where thoughts were on this as I have never dealt with it.

[the elephant]

Likely not technically legal, but also likely not pursued, either.

Pretty much this.