European Copyrights Expire; RIAA Nervous

colmore writes "This article in today's New York Times (free reg. req.) discusses the expiration of European copyrights for recordings made in the 1950s. Now "bootleg" labels can legitimately print a lot of still-popular early rock, country, jazz, and classical albums. The good folks at the RIAA are trying to establish stricter customs controls. So does this mean cheap Elvis or a diluted pool of products?"

Comments

I can see the customs agent now..

[Uhh_Duh]

"It looks like he's shipping his grandmother a CD-R of 'Rock Around the Clock' remixed 13 times... ARREST THIS MAN!"

Nobody will buy them...

[Dimwit]

Yeah, but, I just don't think Elvis sounds as good when he's been translated to French.

Re:Nobody will buy them...

[Pseudonym]

Actually, it could arguably be an improvement.

Ah, you've never really heard Elvis until you've heard him in the original Klingon.

Piratical

[tpengster]

"The import of those products would be an act of piracy," said Neil Turkewitz, the executive vice president international for the Recording Industry Association of America, which has strongly advocated for copyright protections. "The industry is regretful that these absolutely piratical products are being released."

I'm quite regretful that such stupidical comments can make the NYT

Elvis is going to have to start flipping burgers.

[dagg]

Copyright protection lasts only 50 years in Europe compared to 95 years in the United States, even if the recordings were originally made and released in America..

For crying out loud... only 50 years?! Poor Elvis, he is going to have to stop collecting European royalties from his music. Luckily, he can still collect money from Americans. I wouldn't want Elvis to have to get another job. What will he do? Start flipping burgers?

Re:My gut reaction: Communism

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice try, Mr. Engels.

Re:Delute or Elvis?

[susano_otter]

"All these works are yours, except Europe's. Extend no copyrights there."

Cheap Elvis???

[Crusty Oldman]

Excuse me. Was there ever an EXPENSIVE Elvis?

Re:RIAA

[Anonymous Coward]

Press release from Jackius Valentius, head of the Scribe's Guild, circa 1450:

The so-called "printing press" developed by Mr. Gutenberg is the most dangerous piracy tool ever devised. Rather than hiring an unethical scribe to turn out bootleg copies one at a time, the "printing press" enables even an illiterate to create hundreds or even thousands of copies. The "printing press" is to the scribe as incubi are to women alone.

Re:IANAL, but...

[fleener]

> "Google harder next time."

Please refrain from using the word "Google" in the form of a verb or in any manner that does not directly refer to the noun known as the Google search engine web site (www.Google.com) and its associated services.

We wouldn't want to diminish their trademark, now would we?

• Instead of "Kleenex" say "facial tissue."
  
• Instead of "Xerox" say "photocopy."
  
• Instead of "Frisbee" say "flying disc."
  
• Instead of "Slashdotted" say "fubar'd."
  
• Instead of "Google" say "look it up," or "check your facts."
  

RIAA nervous

[Anonymous Coward]

france surrenders

Re:Yes, it's the same.

[Sonny Yatsen]

Just think. If Legislation pushes it to 100 years, then we might have to wait a few years to hear Edison sing "Mary had a Little Lamb" without having to worry about copyrights.

Re:Yes, it's the same.

[Ping the Penguin]

So what you're saying is that Disney don't want their most famous character being used by any old mickey mouse outfit...


If Pro is the opposite of Con, what is the opposite of Progress?

IN DEMOCRATIC AMERICA...

[Anonymous Coward]

The RIAA makes copyrights nervous!

Re:Elvis is going to have to start flipping burger

[istartedi]

He already was flipping hamburgers at the Silver Diner on Franconia Road next to Springfield Mall; but before I could tell anybody, he quit and moved on somewhere.

This would be horrible

[tkrotchko]

If the copyrights expire on Elvis, then what impetus is there for Elvis to create more works if he know he can only profit from them for 50 years?

Its the beginning of the end!

Re:This would be horrible

[NewtonsLaw]

If the copyrights expire on Elvis, then what impetus is there for Elvis to create more works if he know he can only profit from them for 50 years?

I hear Elvis is so angry about this that he's stopped composing new songs and is now busy decomposing instead :-0

Re:This would be horrible

[Dyolf Knip]

I hear Elvis is so angry about this that he's stopped composing new songs and is now busy decomposing instead

No, no, no, he's spent the last few decades chilling out with Walt Disney.

Pottsylvania HA!

[Genady]

Natasha: Vhat Are you doink Dahling?

Boris: Burning coppies of that Capitalist pig Elvis' first album. Ve vill sell them by bajillions and buy a nuke from Korea for Fearless Leader's Birthday.

Rocky: Stop right there Badinov! Jack Valenti sent us to put the kibosh on your illegal operation.

Bullwinkle: Hey Rocky, watch me pull a customs agent out of my hat!

Boris: Foiled again!

Natasha: Don't worry poopsie, I hear Saddam Husein has some Anthrax he vill sell cheap. That vill make good gift for Fearless Leader's birthday.

Bullwinkle: Kinda makes you wonder if we're going after the wrong people for the wrong reasons don't it?

Customs Agent: (Snapping on latex glove) I'm affraid we're going to have to search you two to make sure there isn't any contraband coming into the country.

Rocky: Not again!