Re: : Re: [Harp-L] Elderly harmonica player arrested for performingcopyrighted songs at bar

[Dave Murray <dmurray777@xxxxxxx>]

On Friday 10 November 2006 07:51, Tim Moyer wrote:
> Planet Harmonica wrote:
> > If more proof was needed that existing copyright laws are
> > outdated, absurd and only serve to feed the rich, this is it...
>
> Not to mention some uniformity.  This certainly wouldn't have been
> prosecuted in the US, unless he was recording the gigs and selling the
> recordings.  Even then, it's hard to say whether anyone would pursue
> it if it was small enough.

That's the "De minimis non curat lex" (the law doesn't concern itself with 
insignificance.) outlook. There is an interesting article on the application 
of copyright and fair use at 
http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/articles/copyright.htm

If heard that there have been cases of people (alphabet organization rep) 
asking a performer to sing the "Happy Birthday" song to someone at a live 
music venue, and then suing. It may just be urban legend.

Speaking of happy birthday, today is the U.S. Marine Corps 231st birthday. 
Happy birthday jarheads!

Semper Fi,
Dave