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Copyright Enforcement Goes Looney-Tech! |
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The copyright anti-piracy hit squads have struck once again with a new/old
version of "gotcha." Interestingly enough, this instance is one that
could very easily land right on your personal, as well as corporate, technology
doorstep. No matter who you are, or what you are doing--be it personal
or business--NOW you also have to be paranoid that "someone" is always
listening. That's right, Virginia, the copyright audio police are right
there--hovering nearby---and listening over your shoulder to everything
you do.
Want to know how you can easily be hammered for music piracy? Read on...
In the United Kingdom, a group of car repair shops is being confronted by
the Performing Rights Society (PRS).
(The original Out-Law article is HERE ).
It seems that those "nasty criminal" (just kidding) auto mechanics have
been playing their radios altogether too loudly! As a result, the
performing arts police have accused them of "rebroadcasting" the audio
tracks.
In some--shall we hint at slightly torqued?--minds, this represents a
public "performance" of the copyright protected work. According to the
PRS, playing the audio in such a manner that others can hear it, is a
violation of their copyright and they are willing to take their
perspective to court.
So? If you play that audio recording in your cube, or at your party, or
at the wedding reception, or anywhere else for that matter, you could
easily be labelled for all time as a scurvy music pirate by anyone
within listening range. I wonder if this includes my daughter who seems
to think it's cool to play her iPod so loudly others can hear the
music, even through her earbuds?
Here is my (somewhat humorous) challenge to these looney tunes copyright enforcement fanatics: I think you need to visit New York City. Stop off in one of the--shall we say more musical?--neighborhoods and put your copyright auditing moves on the people listening to music while shooting hoops. THAT should be an interesting process to watch.
As usual, I don't have any issues with the "intelligent" enforcement of
copyright, but this greedy little gambit could very easily get WAY out of hand.
Hopefully, there's a judge somewhere, with even a little common sense,
who will have the social decency to throw this rabid puppy out of court.
(Though I wouldn't bet on it...)
Of course, you have to realize that this confrontation will probably never make it to court. But that's a different blog altogether...
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