Are all TAB sites down like PowerTabs?

But it is perfectly legal to transcribe music as long as you dont profit from it.

I'm no expert on this matter, but tabs and transcriptions more than likely fall under copyright infringement as unauthorized arrangements...though, "fair usage" may apply. I don't think the fact that they are free matters (and some web sites may profit from advertising).

From the MPA itself:

http://www.mpa.org/copyright/faq.html#6

I've seen publishers use various guidelines for solo transcriptions and what's considered fair usage. If fair usage applies, they will often publish an article by an author even if the author hasn't sought permission from the copyright holder. In one case (for a jazz publication), their limit is 16 bars for AABA or 25 bars for a blues solo, assuming that the entire recorded solo is at least 32 bars...the point being, they allow an "excerpt," not an entire solo, and consider it fair usage.

You know what is confusing to me? If the lyrics are off limits then why do some artists post them on their webpages?

Because they own the copyright and want you to read the lyrics so you can sing along.

The MPA Website is full of expensive lawyer-speak, so it's fairly obvious that the scummy bloodsucking legal profession is driving this, but this answer to FAQ number 6 should cover all eventualities although I would argue with the use of the word "derivative" - basically, if you tab it without the copyright holder's consent you're making an unauthorised arrangement and the lawyers will come and bust your arse.

The important thing to realise is that whilst the artists themselves aren't going to get much cash out of 13 year-old little Johnny tabbing out some Greenday in his bedroom, the lawyers will always get their full fees paid. Good money if you can get it - watch them all jump on the bandwagon. And if there's any lawyers reading this who don't like the truth about themselves - tough.

Quote
"If an arrangement is made of a copyrighted work without the authorization of the copyright owner, the arrangement would be an unauthorized derivative work and therefore an infringement of the copyright and the exclusive right of the copyright owner. The first thing to do when you want to make an arrangement is check if the work is in the public domain or if it is protected by copyright. If the work is protected by copyright, you cannot make an arangement without the prior permission of the copyright owner."
Unquote

Best,

A :-)

For the record, I'm a Capital Markets Paralegal. I can't do your divorce or your house move, but I can do your aircraft and ships, and I can do your Cayman Islands tax-free stuff.

bitter?

Now, now, for every ambulance chaser out there there are attorneys who represent the poor for nothing, legal aid societies, and other fair minded, non-greedy wonderful people.

Now bankers on the other hand...... :D

bitter?

Now, now, for every ambulance chaser out there there are attorneys who represent the poor for nothing, legal aid societies, and other fair minded, non-greedy wonderful people.

Now bankers on the other hand...... :D

Hee, hee, you got me - no, I'm not bitter and I admire the guys who do the public cause work; I just get a bit peeved when Little Johnny's parents are going to have to cough up a coupla grand to settle it out of court and the artist will get about 30 cents of that.

Just glancing around, it looks like the three power tab sites I checked out are suffering, but no one else.

What a load of BS! This is just legal crackdown for the sake of legal crackdown! Whos actually being harmed by the posting of tabs on the net? I doubt any famous guitarist would support what the MPA are doing - It stiffles players ability to learn new things. Not to mention the fact that they would surely feel proud to have people around the world learning their stuff at home.
I really do hope its just a simple case of filtering out those tabs copied from tab books or that contain lyrics... :evil: