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German Kindergartens Ordered To Pay Copyright For Songs

Posted by samzenpus on from the easy-as-taking-music-from-a-baby dept.

BBird writes "Deutsche Welle reports: 'Up until this year, preschools could teach and produce any kind of song they wanted. But now they have to pay for a license if they want children to sing certain songs. A tightening of copyright rules means kindergartens now have to pay fees to Germany's music licensing agency, GEMA, to use songs that they reproduce and perform. The organization has begun notifying creches and other daycare facilities that if they reproduce music to be sung or performed, they must pay for a license.'"

11 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. this is not idle. by unity100 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    this is the apex of copyright bullshit, and it is a serious issue. "humming a song ? you need to pay us !"

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    1. Re:this is not idle. by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      UNtil the citizens of each and every country make their vote contingent on putting the recording industry back in its place via new laws, this crap will continue to happen.

      What I'm sure will happen in the meantime is one of those crappy little solutions where the German government calls in recording industry executives, hashes out some little exception for children six years and under, and everyone walks away feeling really good about themselves.

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    2. Re:this is not idle. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The answer is not new laws, it is fewer. Copyright should be scaled back and the state should get out of the business of helping to collect licensing fees (and should use existing anti-cartel laws to prevent companies from banding together to collect royalties). If recording company A wants money from 4 year-olds for singing a song they should have to sue to school and take all the bad press that comes along with their actions. Fear of a competitor gaining an advantage this way would stop the the most ridiculous suits then.

    3. Re:this is not idle. by zn0k · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, humming doesn't require paying. Neither does singing.
      Reproducing sheet music does.
      > The new rules came into power at the beginning of this year, but have only recently drawn attention as daycare centers have received letters reminding them that they need to sign contracts with GEMA before distributing sheet music to children to sing.

      > If copies of music are made, the fee needs to be paid.
      > GEMA said that the need for licenses would not have any effect on singing in kindergartens.
      > "It doesn't cost anything to sing in kindergartens," said Peter Hempel. "If a school does not make any copies of music, then of course they don't need to pay anything."

      While GEMA is bullshit, much like the RIAA, photocopying sheet music is a far cry from kids singing a song.

    4. Re:this is not idle. by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Expect it will have an effect on singing in kindergartens as childern that young won't know the words, so the words have to be spelled out for the child.

      it is really hard to teach simply by talking about a given subject.

      Kindergarten age kids in Germany can read sheet music? I'm impressed...

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  2. Dear GEMA, by thisnamestoolong · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Go fuck yourselves. Sincerely, The World

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  3. Good thing by mseeger · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have to confess, i am very happy about this. This created a lot of waves and even the most conservative media outlets reported very critical about it. I think the copyright mafia used this time a shotgun for volley fire into their own feet. Though i am sorry for the kids, i am thankful for the allies this generated. The evil demasked itself...

    CU, Martin

  4. Re:Devil's advocate by cptdondo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Every culture out there in recorded and unrecorded history has had music and song. Heck, they even dug up a bone flute from 35,000 years ago. It's only in the last 70 years or so that it's become a business.

    Song and dance is innate to human existence, just like food or breathing. Heck, animals sing and dance. Watch any mating pair of herons.

    So now you're teaching those kids that singing a song is a business proposition, not a joyous thing. You pay to play. Talk about taking the fun out of something. And, maybe, just maybe, there won't be as many musicians because a lot of schools will eliminate music. It's just plain stupid.

  5. Re:Go along with it by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe if it gets ridiculous enough people will notice.

    What do you mean, "gets"?

  6. Re:Go along with it by sjames · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A better option is let the kids choose. They can either sing some recent pop tune OR they can sing a public domain folk song AND have a piece of candy.

  7. Re:Kindergarten teachers might do by tolkienfan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IMHO copying sheet music for in-class use should be fair use and should be exempted from licencing requirements.