I think if they record their karyoke night for the court they could make a
case that these renditions are clearly parody/satire, and thus, fair use...
C'mon... Even judges need a sense of humour...
Ric
"FunkyDevil" <qs8rzr001@sneakemail.com> wrote in message
news:31fff59e.0309111115.2b298ed2@posting.google.com...
> They don't want you downloading their music and they most definitely
> don't want you singing it out loud either.
>
> Why do people keep supporting them...???
>
> I encourage support for many of the currently unknown musicians freely
> giving away their music online through many places around the internet
> , including myself as a musician , the difference between us and them
> is you must be interactive in listening to the song , rather than just
> turning on a radio or TV , you must click and listen , and it won't be
> something that you will hear over and over again making it a little
> harder for the average musician , but I still encourage it.
>
> Although in all fairness , I am for silencing karaoke nights , LOL
> ,(joke)
>
>
> ARTICLE :
> http://www.theindychannel.com/entertainment/2468670/detail.html
>
> Lawsuit Seeks To Silence Indy Karaoke Bar
> Agency Claims Bar Didn't Pay Licensing Fees
>
> POSTED: 8:27 a.m. EST September 10, 2003
> UPDATED: 8:31 a.m. EST September 10, 2003
>
> INDIANAPOLIS -- A music licensing agency that represents singers such
> as Sheryl Crow and Dolly Parton has filed a federal copyright lawsuit
> that could silence karaoke nights in central Indiana.
>
>
> In a lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis,
> Broadcast Music Inc. alleges an eastside bar violated copyright laws
> by hosting karaoke and live music shows without paying licensing fees
> to use popular songs.
>
> New York-based BMI is a performance rights organization that collects
> license fees on behalf of songwriters when their music is played on
> radio, TV, the Internet, or is performed publicly.
>
> The lawsuit claims that Parrotheads Bar and Grill failed to pay
> licensing fees for using songs such as "God Bless the USA," and "Old
> Time Rock and Roll."
>
> Parrotheads would likely have to pay annual license fees of about
> $1,000, said Jerry Bailey, a spokesman for BMI.
>
> Besides the bar, the lawsuit names former owner Gary S. Neumann and
> Triple L. Inc. as defendants.
>
> Neumann was out of town, his wife said Wednesday when The Associated
> Press called seeking comment. There was no number for Triple L. Inc.
> in Indianapolis listings. The phone at Parrotheads rang unanswered.
>
> The lawsuit lists as plaintiffs songwriters, a trust for the late
> Sonny Bono and several publishing companies.
>
> "People think music is free, but it is not. This is how songwriters
> make a living," Bailey said.
>
> "These businesses are using the music to draw in people to eat and
> drink," he added.
>
> Scores of nightclubs and restaurants in Indianapolis play music
> without paying licensing fees, and the lawsuit could lead some to
> reconsider karaoke and live music shows, The Indianapolis Star
> reported.
>
> "Everyone will be watching to see how this turns out," said disc
> jockey Justin Posav, of GTI Sounds in Noblesville. "Many of them view
> BMI like the police."
>
> Though restrictions on playing music have been eased by lawmakers in
> recent years, there is still widespread disagreement about how the
> laws work, said John Livengood, executive director of the Restaurant
> and Hospitality Association of Indiana.
>
> "This has been a constant source of friction," Livengood said. Many
> bar owners and restaurateurs "feel if they buy a CD they should have a
> right to play it," he said.
>
> The BMI lawsuit was filed the same day the recording industry sued
> hundreds of individual music lovers accused of illegally downloading
> and sharing songs over the Internet.
>
> Both lawsuits underscore the music industry's increasing
> aggressiveness in protecting copyrights.
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