[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1430834208' post='2765006']
Hey man, wasn't me I'm afraid!
However I have some new videos about to go live within the next month or so, I took my old account down for a thorough re-branding! But I haven't asked any permissions yet. I use my recordings and covers as a self-promotional tool, advertising myself as a player, and as a teacher. Though I've learnt the basics of copyright law, I'm no expert. In fact, when I contacted PRS, MCPS, PPL, and the MU all told me different things. One said I needed a license, the other said not us, another told me that so long as no monetary gain in my favour, or dramatic loss of business in the holder/publisher etc. I'd be ok, and then another told me that I'd be covered under YouTubes license.
As for your friends cover, I don't see why there would be any issue. He's not claimed ownership, he's not tried to gain from it. He could always state it was for academic purposes? [u][i][b]I know that 99% of the time excludes you from copyright infringement(Sic)[/b][/i][/u]
[/quote]
Not if you publish it on the web!!
As a recent example I remember when Stuart Clayton did Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" - it couldn't go in the book because the permissions hadn't come through in time for the publication deadline.
A book teaching people to play a piece is clearly for academic use - and yet the permission of the copyright holder was needed.
Claiming that something was for academic purposes when that isn't true would be a lie - your mate better have at least 1 student!