Music for Slideshow with Children

Please do not steal music for your slide show. You would be upset if someone used your photos without permission, using music that you do not have appropriate license to use is just the same, stealing.

Google "Rights Free Music" to find music you can license to use legally on your slide show.

<Chas>

Charles is absolutely right.
So go ahead and make your slideshow without music. Then tell your daughter to buy the following songs from Itunes or on CD and tell her to play one of these songs on her computer speakers while she views your slideshow:
"You're the Inspiration" by Chicago
"Forever Young" by Rod Stewart
"Child for A Day" by Cat Stevens
"Surprise, Surprise, Surprise" by Bruce Springsteen
"One Moment in Time" by Whitney Houston

See this site for information and links to sources for music that you may legally use for the purpose you've described: http://creativecommons.org/legalmusicforvideos/

Be sure to read the exceptions regarding certain uses for certain types of "free" music, such as the podsafe music concept. For example, while permitted uses of podsafe music clearly include most podcasts, some permissions may not explicitly include personal slideshows or videos, even if not redistributed online.

How is BUYING music from I-tunes and using it in a personal family photo slideshow for personal non-public use illegal ?

Phylo, it probably is technically illegal but for personal use, to hell with it, just do it FFS. I respect copyright but I'm not sanctimonious about it.

Having said that, it's best to use music which the recipient has not heard before. Do we really need another instance of Ode de Joy? Or some Michael Jackson song? no. Hence, Lex's suggestion might be the better one.

Karim, so since it's only "technically illegal" for me to use your pictures without your permission, you'd advise me to go ahead and publish them on my web site?

You have a poor sense of what's right and wrong here.

Yes, I'm sanctamonious about it, because I have had my pictures stolen, and I have been sued for using unlicensed music. Neither is fun.

@Phylo, when you "buy" music from iTunes, you don't actually own anything but the right to play that file on your iPod. Period . Not in public. Not on the radio. Not in a club. And, certainly you don't own the right to copy that music to a CD/DVD for a slide show. Google "synchronization rights" for info on what you don't get when you buy music.

Read the site Lex linked to, it'll clear up your misconceptions.

<Chas>

And, certainly you don't own the right to copy that music to a CD/DVD for a slide show.

And yet I certainly feel comfortable in claiming that right, if it's for personal non-public, non-profit use, like in the example of the original post. I also claim the right to copy that music to a cd to play in my car or on any radio in my house, just like I would have if I had bought the original cd in a store. So what's the difference then in putting that cd in the cd player, or hooking up the I-pod to the speakers and simultaneously playing a photoslideshow on tv ? I also don't own the right to do that ?

Sorry to interrupt this worthwhile conversation:
another song: Carole King's "Now and Forever"
As you may have guessed, I am still living in the past.

Phylo, the difference is in the letter of the law, not some imaginary right you claim to have.
Do some research, read some sites, find out the reality.
Of course no one will be prosecuted for using Carole King for a slide show for their kids. But I won't be prosecuted for stealing your photos either, will I. Does that make it OK?
<Chas>