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ASCAP Wants To Be Paid When Your Phone Rings

Posted by kdawson on from the don't-even-think-about-whistling-the-beatles dept.

gerddie notes a piece up on the EFF site outlining the fairly outlandish legal theories ASCAP is trying out in their court fight with AT&T. "ASCAP (the same folks who went after Girl Scouts for singing around a campfire) appears to believe that every time your musical ringtone rings in public, you're violating copyright law by 'publicly performing' it without a license. At least that's the import of a brief (PDF, 2.5 MB) it filed in ASCAP's court battle with mobile phone giant AT&T."

9 of 461 comments (clear)

  1. RIAA by arizwebfoot · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even if ASCAP doesn't win, the RIAA will sue for your phone to see if you have any illegal downloaded ring tones.

    --
    Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
    1. Re:RIAA by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

      Some of us use our phones for - can you believe it - communication

      But at some point you probably sung Happy Birthday to your child over the phone. As an unauthorized public performance that allows the RIAA to sell your children into slavery. This is all covered by the brief filed in their case "RIAA vs. All of Humanity".

    2. Re:RIAA by geekboy642 · · Score: 5, Funny

      My phone has 5 megapixel camera, opera mini as browser and full Java support. And it's not a high end phone. ... SSH to my computer ...

      My phone has none of that. Stupid cheap plastic junk. It does, however, have dozens of probably infringing ringtones. My favorite is a redub of Aerosmith's "Eat the Rich" that goes "Fuck the RIAA". The meter doesn't quite scan, but the point gets across.

      --
      Just another "DOJ fascist authoritarian totalitarian bootlicker" -- Zeio
  2. One cannot help but wonder . . . by taustin · · Score: 5, Funny

    . . . why these people have not been struck by a meteor. If there were a God in this universe, there would be a meteor.

  3. I don't mean to be ridiculous but ... by electricprof · · Score: 5, Funny

    I once fell down the stairs and the next day I recieved a bill from ASCAP and RIAA for performing a Lars Ulrich drum solo ... ok, maybe I do mean to be ridiculous.

  4. Pick you battles by newgalactic · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do we just let AT&T and ASCAP fight this one out? This is like Iran and North Korea going at it.

  5. Re:Someone... by severoon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Another word for "composer" is "handicrafter." Another word for "publisher" is "typesetter." So ASCAP should change their name from "American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers" to "American Society of Skilled Handicrafting, Authoring and Typesetting Specialists."

    Short form: ASSHATS.

    --
    but have you considered the following argument: shut up.
  6. Re:Someone... by cashman73 · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Tea, Earl Grey, Hot"

    That line is the property of Paramount Pictures. Please remit settlement payment of $5,000, or hire legal representation.

  7. Re:Someone... by malkir · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear AC, I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $5,000 so trust that this settles the matter. Warm regards.