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MST3K Rightsholders Sue Over Theater Commentary

Posted by timothy on from the no-that-is-not-your-style-because-it-is-ours dept.

An anonymous reader writes "How can people who parody people sue people who parody them? Mr. Sinus is being sued by Best Brains Inc. the owners of the rights to Mystery Science Theatre 3000 because they are using a name/format that is too similar to their own. Here is the story." Evil thought: Apple should include a "three silhouettes yakking on merged soundtrack" mode in iMovie.

1 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. Re:live performances are different by kfg · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    No licensing / royaltees are required for live performances.

    You are woefully incorrect, as you can find by simply reading the copyright notice on any play, sheet music and most recordings.

    Either ASCAP or BMI is the group responsible for collecting performance royalties in the United States, and if you think the RIAA are royal bastards you've never dealt with the ASCAP sharks. Those guys will actually try to collect royalties from you for pointedly not playing any music that they represent.

    In most case it is the house that pays the royaltie fees though. Look for the little ASCAP decal on the door as you enter the venue.

    But if you are a street performer and play a Beatles tune you are vilolating copyright law and owe money for having done so.

    KFG