Okay, I keep hearing that if I take 3 seconds or less of copyrighted music, and use it in a project (we'll assume for argument's sake it's for commercial purposes), that this is okay. Furthermore, looping this 3 second clip of music for however long you want is also allegedly okay. Now, being that I've heard this from no one I would consider infallible, I want to if it's true.

well for most art I know if you change it upto 30% of the original then it is yours. So that means you need to change the orginal not just cut out a piece of a copy. I know lots of people that do use bits and pieces of songs but without changing it some how I still think they own the copyright.

I hope you find the answers. because I would like to know as well.

Rob:D

Okay, I keep hearing that if I take 3 seconds or less of copyrighted music, and use it in a project (we'll assume for argument's sake it's for commercial purposes), that this is okay.
Nope. There's no magic amount of copying that's permitted.

These people must find the worst lawyers in the world to talk to, 'cause everything I hear from them seems to be wrong. Thanks Paul.

People listen to what they want to beleive and tend to tune out what they don't.

True or False, the three second rule is wide spread. I heard it on an TV interview. I can not remember what show, but it had to be either CNN, TechTV, or the MTV/VH1 channels. Those are most of what I watch. Most likely TechTV.

What I heard about the three second 'rule' was applied to radio stations who wanted to use a portion of a song for a sting or promo sound bite.

There is no "three second rule" in copyright law. It is possible that BMI/ASCAP (which controls public performance) may have such a policy -- I don't know.

Food for thought. I welcome more comments.