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Does adding audio violate MRR?

by kenboss
6 replies
Hail fellow Warriors!

I would like to ask a specific question about MRR. I find generally most resell rights issues are pretty straightforward, but this is a complex grey area and I haven't yet found anyone who knows the answer.

Here's the situation: I am an actor and professional voiceover artist and would like to incorporate this ability somehow into my internet marketing.

I know that MRR means that you have to sell the product exactly "as is" - you can't alter it in any way, or claim authorship etc.

My question is this: if I get product X with MRR, and I record my own "audio book" version of the product as an mp3, to offer say, as a bonus when I resell the product, does that constitute "altering" the product?

Just to clarify a few points:

We'll assume that my recording is verbatim and includes full credit to the original author. And also makes it clear that the voice is mine and is not claiming to be the voice of the author.

I'm not talking about ever offering the mp3 as a separate product, which would of course be plagiarism. I'm talking about offering it as an inclusive bonus alongside the product itself, or perhaps as an opt-in incentive after the customer has purchased the original product and is about to download.

All opinions are extremely welcome, but I'm hoping that someone out there has a definitive legal take on whether or not this would actually violate Master Resale Rights.
Would it be perhaps safest to get the author's written permission before taking such a step?
Does anyone know of a precedent where someone has done this?

I know that there would be absolutely no problem doing this with PLR - it is MRR I am specifically referring to.

Among those of you who do offer MRR to your own products - how would YOU feel about someone doing that?

I have other questions about marketing my voice in this field, but will save them for another post!!

Many thanks in advance
Ken Williams
#adding #audio #mrr #violate
  • Profile picture of the author pjCheviot
    Banned
    Ken

    I Am Not A Lawyer . . . . and I have never come across this before . . . but I am sure it would do no harm to ask the original author for their views. And if you were to allow them to use your audio version as a "thank-you" I would hope that they would accept quite willingly. I certainly would!

    Just my thoughts . . .
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  • Profile picture of the author kenboss
    Thank you pjCHeviot for taking the trouble to reply. The idea of offering the audio for the author's use is a good suggestion.
    The more I think about it, the more I think getting the author's permission is the key.

    After all, rights restrictions really only exist to protect the interests of the author and the integrity of their product and/or brand, so if they have no objection, and state so in writing, then I suppose there's really no issue.

    thanks again
    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Anthony Stillwell
    Ken,

    What you're talking about is perfectly acceptable to do. In fact, I've even gone
    further and created derivative works from MRR products (but making sure to include
    the original product showing that's where I got the idea for my product from) to
    make it all nice and legal like. ;-)

    The authors of the MRR products have no issues with what I do because it helps
    me distribute MORE copies of their product.

    If on the other hand I would have created a derivative product and tried to pass it
    off as my own with no credit given to the original product then that would have put
    me in some hot water. The derivative products I create are based on what I learned
    from the original product so they serve to help solidify the effectiveness of the info
    taught in that product by giving people a different perspective to draw from.

    The original product the way it is may not work for some people but when I tell
    them how I took that information and did something specific with it, they can get
    a better idea of what they can do with that same information.

    I then market my derivative information upfront effectively cutting out competitors
    because they can't offer the product I created.

    In your case I'd suggest marketing your audios and including the MRR product as
    a "transcript" of the audios. Your competitors won't be able to do this so this gives
    you an easy (and visible) advantage to consumers. Many would rather listen than
    read so giving them the option should help.

    You could also hire someone to create digital images of your audio product which
    would further help to distinguish your offer from competitors.

    Hope that helps.

    Anthony
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    • Profile picture of the author kenboss
      Anthony -- I hadn't checked back on this thread over the last couple of days until now, and just saw this -- thanks so much for your input - these are extremely valuable suggestions.

      I am not sure I would go as far as to create an audio and suggest that the original MRR product was a "transcript" of that. To me that term implies too strongly that my audio existed first, and the the author actually created his product out of it. I would probably end up alienating the author as well as undermining my credibility.

      But I don't think that's necessary anyway. As you have suggested, the fact that I have expanded the package to include my own audio means I can offer a unique version of the product, that they can't get elsewhere.

      BUT HOLD ON-- all is not lost here -- if it was PLR instead of MRR, then I think your suggestion would be totally brilliant! Make an audio out of the skilfully rewritten PLR, and make THAT the product, with the text doc offered as a "transcript". That's a really good way to approach plr. I'm totally gonna use that!!

      Nice one - thanks again
      cheers
      Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    Regarding the MRR product (not the plr): From what I can tell, as a derivative this would violate the copyright (copyright law specificly gives the copyright holder exculsive rights to derivative works). I'd try to track down the creator/copyright holder before going down this path.
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    -Jason

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    • Profile picture of the author kenboss
      Originally Posted by jasonl70 View Post

      Regarding the MRR product (not the plr): From what I can tell, as a derivative this would violate the copyright (copyright law specificly gives the copyright holder exculsive rights to derivative works). I'd try to track down the creator/copyright holder before going down this path.

      Aha!! Thanks for that, Jason! This is what I suspected in the first place, which prompted me to post the question. This supports my conclusion, above, that seeking the author's permission is the key.

      I had been thinking that a simple email from them saying "yeah sure go ahead, whatever, dude...." might suffice. But now that you've stated it in such strong legal terms, I would be inclined to go one step further and request that they issue a new license in writing, with a clearly specified amendment to that effect.

      thanks
      Ken
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