Lyric Sites In Trouble With The MPA

Joe the Lesser writes "Apparently the Music Publishers Association is cracking down on sites, like LyricFind, that display song lyrics without permission. 'Just because there is no central licensing body it doesn't make it right to take lyrics and publish them without permission.' says Sarah Faulder of the MPA."

Comments

Can I sing them ?

[MrFenty]

Am I still allowed to sing (off key) to a song in the shower, without owning the original cd ?

Re:Can I sing them ?

[meringuoid]

Only if nobody hears you. If they hear you, then it's a performance and you have to pay royalties. You might be safe if people hear you and don't enjoy it, though...

lyrics for American Life by Madonna

[ramzak2k]

la lala lala LA !, la la lala Luh !..

Re:lyrics for American Life by Madonna

[Stuart Gibson]

Shouldn't that be

"What the fuck do you think you are doing".

That's the way mine goes.

Goblin

don't sing along -- you might be next

[misterpies]

Why stop at banning reproduction of song lyrics?

What we really need to do is clamp down on people who actually _sing_ those songs, out loud, without paying a royalty. And I'm not talking just street musicians -- what about those immoral folks who sing in the shower? And the even more wicked ones -- since they try to conceal their crimes -- yes, people who hum along in their heads.

Let's face it. It's wrong. The original artist (via the record company) has complete control over how the music is to be experienced. Any performance not sanctioned by them is clearly illegal. And worse, all those folks who heard you sing would otherwise have bought the CD, so you're losing sales -- stealing from the artist.
Not only that, but someone could record you singing the song, even if the original CD was copy protected, which would clearly be a breach of the DMCA.

I know theft when I see it.

Lyric sites are good!

[SomethingOrOther]

Even if there sole purpose is to stop the muppet next to you with a walkman singing "Whats a glove got to do with it"

RIAA lobby congress to impose tax on all paper

[goldcd]

"We feel it is only fair to compensate our members for the loss of earnings caused by the illegitimate transcription of unlicensed lyrics"

Re:This is a surprise?

[nathanh]

Lyrics are basically poems, and no one would argue that poetry isn't covered by copyright.

Poetry? Let's read an example of modern music and the "poetry" within.

Ahh, heat is up
So ladies, fellas, drop your cups
Body's hot from front to back
Now move your ass - ha, I like that
Tight hip huggers (low fo' sho')
Shake a little somethin' (on the floor)
I need that (uh) to get me off
Sweat until my clothes come off

Any law which makes it illegal to copy crap like that is OK by me.

Why is it people think music is somehow different from other forms of art and can be readily and freely stolen?

I like how you jump from "lyrics" to "music" without even changing gear. If I tried something like that I think I'd ruin the synchro.

Re:Uh...no

[feed_me_cereal]

Either way you look at it, copyright holders are not getting the $$$ that they are legally entitled to.

That's right! Ever since I found out I could just find the lyrics to music on the internet, I stopped buying CD's entirely! You see, the only reason I bought CD's was so I could find out what song lyrics are. I've never really been interested in hearing the actual "songs". I assume most people feel the same way about this that I do, because otherwise the owners of the music wouldn't be losing any money and we'd both sound like idiots, right? It's a damn good thing someone is doing something about stopping people from having a convient way to find out what people are saying in songs! This "internet" problem has gone on long enough!!

Re:If they are making money out of it...

[travdaddy]

Or the people with "lyricosis", the disease which causes sufferers to have difficulty understanding song lyrics: Such as in Jimi Hendrix's song, "Scuze me, while I kiss this guy!"

Fuck 'Em

[waldoj]

I run a Dave Matthews Band fan site, nancies.org (a non-profit, non-stock corporation), and we provide both lyrics and tablature. These tabs are provided to us by site users, who interpret live and studio performances as best as they can. We have them for a variety of instruments, but mostly guitar. Anyhow, I got the following letter last week:

From: "David Hall"
To: "Waldo Jaquith"
Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 3:31:50 PM US/Eastern

Dear Waldo:

It has come to our attention that you have been engaging in the practice of posting illegal tab arrangements on your website. Unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted musical compositions constitutes infringement under the United States copyright law, and the law provides substantial remedies to rights owners. Whenever printed music is copied or distributed on the Internet without permission, you are stealing from composers, publishers and music retailers.

It is essential to the future of printed music that the copyright law be upheld by all. Composers, arrangers, publishers and dealers are losing a significant percentage of their income because of illegal photocopying. This loss of revenue ultimately means that less and less printed music is available for sale, short print runs mean higher prices for what is available, and dealers are no longer able to afford to carry large stocks of music.

As a webmaster, you hold a special responsibility to understand and uphold the laws regarding what can and cannot be posted to your website. We urge you to practice compliance with copyright law so that no further action is necessary on behalf of music rights owners. Such compliance will benefit all of us in the music community - students and educators, creators, publishers and retailers.

Sincerely,
David Hall
Sales Manager, eCommerce
www.halleonard.com

Never one to take this kind of nonsense sitting down, I replied immediately.

From: Waldo Jaquith
Date: Wed May 7, 2003 4:31:06 PM US/Eastern
To: David Hall

David,

Make me. I dare you. Just try it. Seriously. I'll own you.

I'll be very disappointed if I don't get a nastygram in the mail from you within a few weeks, because that will rob me of the opportunity to waste lots of your money by using up your attorney's time.

Don't let me down, Dave!

Kisses,
Waldo Jaquith

I've been checking my mail but, still, nothing. :) Sometimes, you've got to take these companies in hand.

-Waldo Jaquith

Re:What the hell

[jhines0042]

I think that this was best said by the Talking Heads in their song I Zimbra

"GadJi Beri Bimba Clan Dridi
Lauli Lonni Cadori Gadjam
A Bim Beri Glassalal Glandride
E Glassala Tuffm I ZIMBRA

Bim Blassa Galassasa Zimbrabim
Blassa Galassasa Zimbrabim

A Bim Beri Glassala Grandrid
E Glassala Tuffm I ZIMBRA

GadJi Beri Bimba Clan Dridi
Lauli Lonni Cadori Gadjam
A Bim Beri Glassalal Glandride
E Glassala Tuffm I ZIMBRA"

-- The Talking Heads, "I Zimbra"

Re:Uh...no

[ianjk]

In the news:

RIAA and MPA have filed a joint suit against Microsoft. The suit claims that Microsoft provides a means through their conroversial web browser Internet Explorer, to download song lyrics and then play them back using a Windows feature called 'narrator'. RIAA spokesperson David Nuterballs was quoted: 'Not since Napster, have we seen such blatant use of technology to steal from our artists'. The suit, rumored to be in the trillions, pretrial will begin in July.

Re:boy, is this short sighted

[CaseyB]

Korn [...] should [...] bring music back to the folk days

Can't wait to hear their cover of "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain".