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Bar Performer Arrested For Copyright Violations

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the sieze-his-harmonica dept.

Edis Krad writes, "An elderly Japanese bar manager and performer has been arrested for playing copyrighted songs on his harmonica. From the article: 'Investigators accuse Toyoda of illegally performing 33 songs such as the Beatles' songs "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Yesterday," whose copyrights are managed by the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers. He allegedly performed the songs on the harmonica with a female pianist at the bar he operated between August and September this year.' This is for all those kids who are learning chords on their guitars — be ready to pay fees for practicing 'Smoke On The Water.' This story seems to be legit, though it reads like an Onion piece. It's only being reported in the Mainichi Daily News via MSN.

9 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. Not all bad... by tomknight · · Score: 5, Funny
    "This is for all those kids who are learning chords on their guitars - be ready to pay fees for practicing 'Smoke On The Water.'"

    Every cloud has a silver lining....

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    Oh arse
  2. No "Stairway!" by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Funny

    Denied!

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    Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
  3. Parody? by Sporkinum · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apparently parody is not protected under Japanese law.

    An old geezer on harmonica and a underage Japanese school girl on piano? ;)

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    "He's lost in a 'floyd hole"
  4. Never mind the music... by @madeus · · Score: 1, Funny

    Never mind the music, have you seen the guys name? "Mr Toyoda " indeed! He should be up for trademark infringement!

  5. Classical music by Gospodin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Simple solution: stop listening to this newfangled "rock and roll" stuff and just focus on classical. Haydn and Mozart's copyrights ran out long ago, so you can practice and perform their work for free. (Granted, some of the newer classical stuff is still under copyright, but it mostly sucks anyway.)

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    ...following the principles of Heisenburger's Uncertain Cat...
  6. This Is Not The First Time Either.... by pandrijeczko · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...George Michael was arrested for playing "Come Together" on a pink oboe in a public lavatory.

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    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
  7. Trademark by Peyna · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, with a name like "Toyoda," he's lucky they didn't add a charge for Trademark Dilution.

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    What?
  8. I can almost hear that poor guy singing... by ColdCoffee · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Yesterday, Rife was such an easy game to Pray..."

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    Sig? - yeah, whatever.
  9. Car Company Gets on Board For Trademark Violation by slughead · · Score: 2, Funny

    Investigators accuse Toyoda of illegally performing 33 songs such as the Beatles

    Toyota motor company sued as well, claiming that playing bad harmonica under the name "Toyoda" qualifies as defamation of character and slander.

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    Latewire