Slashdot Mirror
Bar Performer Arrested For Copyright Violations
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.
I don't think copyrights even come into play in a public performance (as no "copy" is being produced). You can probably even get away with recording a cover so long as you don't use the lyrics. (And if you do record a cover all you have to pay is statutory licensing.)
I haven't any idea how similar or different the laws are in Japan.
-Peter
I too am having this problem, and I suspect everyone else is, but hasn't noticed or doesn't care. What's really fun is that if this is fixed soon, all of the redundant comments will show up and be moderated down (I posted the same CNN link that you posted LiquidCooled in response to the Vista RTM because I didn't realize that you'd posted it 10 minutes before I did). Bring on the negative moderation! I don't see how this is trolling (although offtopic and redundant do apply).. It should at least be left in the top level for people to see.
A new low in "news" coverage.
... all that is left for us is to read the articles.
In other news, internet gets slashdotted.
So say we all