WORKSHOP RULES -- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

These questions and answers are intended to assist you in understanding the rules of the Poesybeat Workshop. Consult the Terms of Use for a full explanation.

What is a Poesy?

A Poesy is a recording of a poem or spoken word piece.

What is a Beat?

A Beat is a recording of a piece of music.

What is a Poesybeat?

A Poesybeat is a recording combining one or more Poesies and one or more Beats. The Poesies and Beats may be ones you downloaded from poesybeat.org, ones you created yourself, or a combination of the two.

What may I do with a Poesy that I download from the Workshop database?

You may listen to it and make copies for your own personal use. You may also use it to create a Poesybeat.

What may I do with a Beat that I download from the Workshop database?

You may listen to it and make copies for your own personal use. You may also use it to create a Poesybeat.

What may I do with a Poesybeat that I created using one or more Poesies or Beats downloaded from the Workshop database?

You may listen to it and make copies for your own personal use. You may also upload it to the Poesybeat database in the Workshop for others to hear.

May I do anything else with a Poesy or Beat that I download - or a Poesybeat I create from a Poesy or Beat that I download?

No. You may not use these works for any other purpose (including public performance, broadcast, or distribution). However, if the member who uploaded the Poesy or Beat lists his or her email in his or her member profile, you may email that person to request a written agreement to permit you some other use.

But what if the big record company calls and wants me to make a record featuring the Poesybeat I created using another member's Poesy or Beat?

If the member who uploaded the Poesy or Beat doesn't permit email contact in his or her member profile, of if the member accepts email but will not agree to let you use the Poesybeat on your record, you are simply out of luck. Putting the Poesybeat on your record would violate the license (Poesy License or Beat License) given to you by the person who uploaded the Poesy or Beat.

What may I do with another member's Poesybeat that I download from the database?

You may listen to it and make copies for your own personal use. You may not use it for any other purpose (including creation of another Poesybeat or other derivative work, public performance, broadcast, or distribution). However, if the member who uploaded the Poesybeat lists his or her email in his or her member profile, you may email that person to request a written agreement to permit you some other use.

What can other members do with a Poesy, Beat, or Poesybeat that I upload to the database?

Other members can do the same things with your Poesies, Beats, and Poesybeats that you can do with Poesies, Beats, and Poesybeats that you download from the database (see above).

May I combine multiple Poesies and Beats into one Poesybeat?

Yes, you may use as many Poesies and Beats from the database as you wish in creating a Poesybeat. When you upload the resulting Poesybeat, simply check the box in front of each Poesy or Beat that you used. This will properly credit whomever uploaded each Poesy and Beat that you used.

May I download a Poesybeat and use it to create another Poesybeat or other derivative work?

No. However, if the member who uploaded the Poesybeat lists his or her email in his or her member profile, you may email that person to request a written agreement to permit to create a Poesybeat or other derivative work from his or her Poesybeat.

When I upload a Poesy, Beat, or Poesybeat, am I entering into a licensing agreement with each person who downloads that Poesy, Beat, or Poesybeat?

Yes, all filed transferred through the Workshop database pass from the uploader to the downloader under the Poesy License, Beat License, or Poesybeat License, as applicable. This is a direct contract between the uploader and the downloader, and the Poesybeat Arts Initiative, which runs poesybeat.org is not a party to the license.

Can I change how Poesies, Beats, and Poesybeats are licensed to other members?

No. You may not modify the licenses. For instance, you could not write "Creative Commons" in the comment field when uploading or indicate in your member profile that all your uploads are intended to be public domain.

Can I use samples in Poesies, Beats, and/or Poesybeats that I upload to the Workshop database?

Sampling of copyrighted works (unless you have a license) is strictly forbidden. You are solely responsible for determining whether you have a legal right to use any samples present in your work.

If I upload a Poesy or Beat - or a totally original Poesybeat (i.e., one not containing any other member's Poesy or Beat) - do I still retain the copyright in that work and can I still perform it, distribute it, sell it, etc.?

Yes. You do not surrender your copyright when you upload original works to the Workshop database. You are merely licensing that work to other members for listening and creating Poesybeats and to the Poesybeat Arts Initiative for the purpose of displaying that work on the site. You are not transferring your copyright to the Poesybeat Arts Initiative or any member of the Workshop. However, you don't generally have the right to revoke these licenses. So, for example, if you wanted to publish your poem (Poesy) in a book or include your music (Beat) on a record, you could not require the Poesybeat Arts Initiative to remove any Poesybeats created from your Poesy or Beat or prevent members who had already downloaded your Poesy or Beat from listening to those works or creating Poesybeats from those works for upload to the database.

Can I remove all of my work from the site?

You may terminate your member name by visiting the Member Profile section of the Workshop. If you do this it will deactivate all Poesy, Beat, and Poesybeat files that you uploaded to the database. It will not, however, deactivate the Poesybeats of other members that were created using your Poesies or Beats. See the Terms of Use for more details on terminating your membership in the Workshop.

Can I upload files other than Poesies, Beats, and Poesybeats?

No. You may only upload your own original works, and they must be Poesies, Beats, or Poesybeats. There are some excellent websites available, such as macjams.com, where you can upload other forms of music - particularly if you feel the uncontrollable urge to sing. Under no circumstances may you upload copyrighted material to the database - e.g., Eminem's latest single. Copyright infringers will be terminated.