Rights holder later apologizes, restores sound

Vocaloid lets its users write their own songs and hear them sung by a voice-like software. It can be a great way for musicians to promote their work... but sometimes Vocaloid pieces sound a little too close to the originals. Vocaloid enthusiast Mizuki Takaoka learned this the hard way.



Sekai no Owari's original song

Takaoka uploaded the VOCALOID4 Library Fukase version of Sekai no Owari's "Starlight Parade" to YouTube on February 3. Vocaloid4 Library Fukase was created to showcase the unique vocals of Fukase (the lead singer of Sekai no Owari). What's more, "Starlight Parade" is included in the software's manual as a demo and tutorial. Sekai no Owari's copyright holder assumed it was an unauthorized posting of the original song, however, and had the video muted on February 17.



Takaoka's version using the software manual

Takaoka objected and fought the decision, claiming the video was a derivative work and posting a picture of the manual on Twitter as proof. The rights holder finally relented on March 1, restoring the sound and sending an apologetic e-mail. Takaoka adopted an amused attitude toward the affair, tweeting that "regardless of the accuracy of the inspection [into copyright infringement], the fact that I was 'officially mistaken [for the original]' is the highest of praise" and including "www" (cheeky grins) into their tweets.



"Starlight Parade" included in the Vocaloid manual

YouTube uses a system called Content ID to allow copyright holders to track violations on YouTube. User uploads that match YouTube's content database of copyrighted files can get muted or blocked. Meanwhile, Takaoka's video was unaffected on Nico Nico Douga.

[Via Kai-You]