I’ve had it with the lunacy and power of the song/music copyright industry. The all powerful and never ceasing copyright machine recently caused the online web radio sites to be put on the “endangered species” list, Gracenote has found a way to monetize lyrics and the online tablature industry is being heralded to us as “coming back” -complete with fees and payment structures (wonder who made them go away in the first place). What’s next? Imagine this all to possible scenario…
I was walking along, minding my business, humming one of the latest Top-Ten Pop Tunes when …someone heard me! WHAM, BAM! I visually survey the surrounding area to see if anyone else noticed the egregious event. How could I do something like this? I didn’t even acquire performance rights or the mechanical rights! Maybe I was being recorded by a cell phone… if it was videod that’s even more infringements; I’ve crossed over the line and now I might have to pay! Someone should develop a vocal chord immobilizer for situations like this!
What if that “someone” starts to hum the tune too (it was catchy)? This really could go “out of control”, it could spread exponentially: two more humming then another four, eight, sixteen -it’s wildfire! Before you know it, the entire city is going to be ripping of the music-industry by humming their tunes and costing them billions, all because of me. God forbid they actually start singing and dancing the electric-slide! From now on, it’s only humming in the shower for me. Now, first I’ll soundproof the door, then…
Is this where we are heading to? Will the very act of reproducing a song by humming, whistling or singing constitute a felony? Will the memorization of a song constitute a “chemical copy”? Don’t laugh, the industry would love to get the courts to allow the copyrighting of chord progressions. Once they’ve accomplished it, there will be even more ridiculous law suits and court cases.
Chords themselves will have derivatives: C Major will be copyrighted and C minor will be it’s derivitive; don’t even think about augmenting or diminishing a chord without proper clearances! It won’t be long before they start after rhythms and then -the notes themselves!
I’m sure it won’t be long before someone imposes a “music mind tax” on “we the people” based on a whacko study that finds the average person “plays” copyrighted music in their minds for about thirty minutes a day (remember that “chemical copy” I was talking about). Five cents a minute sounds fair; “for under two dollars per day, you can”… At what point does this madness stop?
I’m starting a grass roots movement right now: ROYALTY FREE MINDS FOR EVERYONE! Join me in protest to this possible, and don’t think they wouldn’t if they could, absurdity. Someone come up with an awareness banner for the movement…we’ll take the industry by storm!
Fine Print: If you would like to join the ROYALTY FREE MINDS FOR EVERYONE! associates program, use our banner, become a sustaining member or simply have read this far, an umbrella-based pyramid fee structure will apply and be deployed…NOT!
[tags]emi, drm, copyright, tablature, gracenote, royalty free, music, industry[/tags]
There is no way to enforce such a law. Some tunes are also very similar, and alot of people who whistle are tone deaf. You could be whistling the oscar meyer hotdog commercial and the humming police will charge ya for humming some red hot chili peppers.
H0ser,
LOL! Did you catch the Pachabel Rant video? Rob, plays a parody of the Pachabel’s Canon with about 20 “modern” tunes using the chord progression…
In my scenario…We could say that Solfeggio classes will be required by law enforcement officers to help with pitch discrimination. Could you imagine! :) Your right though, they WOULD charge you with something…
J. Pisano
We actually discussed music copyright laws in my 8th grade general music class today. Needless to say, there was much wailing and nashing of teeth when I revealed to them about MP4’s. One of the students asked “when is the record company going to stop?” The answer is probably on the 12th of never.
I have arranged several pieces for my bands using music that to my knowledge was “public domain”. I am sure it is only a matter of time before ASCAP busts me for producing one too many arrangements of Amazing Grace with a fantastic counter melody of scottish descent. And people still love that mistreatment by Ticheli….(no offense Frank, I think).
And while on the subject of the music police, before cuff one is placed upon our forum’s fearless leader they better execute that no talent clown Vanilla Ice for what he did to “Under Pressure”. Oh, wait a minute, that’s sampling – NOT STEALING. Yeah, right.
I’ve been maintaining an internet radio station via Live365 since kast year. I pay a monthly fee to keep that station running, it’s a labor of love and I haven’t earned a single dime since it was launched (never intended it to be a means of earning money anyway). Due to recent turn of events I was forced to cancel my station.
So what really is next? Should I stop singing in my shower? God forbid, as you mentioned, they start copyrighting chord progressions.
If chord progressions were able to be copyrighted, the number of current bands would diminish to about 5 in each current genre, and radio stations would have to find something else to fill their space (maybe more commercials).
Was there ever such a concern about “stealing” music when the cassette recorder came around and people started to record their favorite radio station for 60 or 90 minutes?