Re: [Harp-L] music industry news....gimme more money say the Music Companies

[Pic2318834@xxxxxxx]

I say ban all song ringtones. That'll teach em.
 
 
In a message dated 10/22/2009 10:30:27 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
icemanle@xxxxxxx writes:


WHEN  YOUR CELLPHONE RINGS, YOU BREAK THE
LAW SAY RECORD  COMPANIES






You are nuts says a federal judge who  has
dismissed the music industry contention that when a  cellphone's
ringtone plays, copyright infringement starts since others can  hear
the song, essentially arguing that a mobile phone is a  portable
concert hall.






That argument meant that  millions of mobile
phone users were copyright breakers anytime anyone  called them. The
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers,  known as ASCAP
was attempting to wring even more royalties from music  lovers, who
already pay ringtone royalties when they buy ringtones.  Additionally,
ASCAP collects royalty payments for public performances of  songs from
venues as divergent as a summer camp and a stadium. While  ASCAP's
much-ridiculed argument in the case was a legal long
shot,  copyright chaos might have ensued had the
royalty-collecting group actually  prevailed.






"The ruling is an important  victory
for consumers, making it clear that playing music in public, when  done
without any commercial purpose, does not infringe copyright,"
wrote  Fred von Lohmann, a copyright attorney with the Electronic
Frontier  Foundation. - www.wired.com






The mother of all  "nuisance
lawsuits", surely. ASCAP was suing AT&T and Verizon in a  New
York federal court. Music companies are unrepentant  and
GREEDY.
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