but once you do, you'll have to deal with the copyright troll industry- they hit as many up as they can for the few big payoffs- it isnt going to get better anytime soon  

slartabartfast

Jim Roseberry
The melody and lyrics are the only things protected by copyright.
Chords and "riffs" are not...

If you can show me any case law to support that contention I would be surprised. There is certainly nothing in statute to support it. In the end, a work infringes a prior copyright if a judge or jury decides that it does. The basic question is whether there is substantial similarity between two contested works, or portions thereof, with some consideration given to whether the copied material represents a significant amount of the value of the original. Whose point of view decides these questions and how it is decided is not all that clearly delineated, and application of the tests available is not always going to get the same result.

Jim is right (of course). But then, since when do courts follow, or even understand, the law as it's written? The whole working philosophy of the American Court System is "win - no matter what". If you hire the right lawyer you can sue anyone for anything for anyreason! What Do I Think? If you have enough money - you will win.

Guitarhacker
Three notes got George Harrison into some expensive trouble.

But does he care now?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I'll get me coat.

I wonder if I ever accidentally wrote a song that hasn't been already made before. That would be just weird...