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Tootsall · 03-31-2004, 05:56 PM

Well, Gus...you're getting into something else known as "performance rights" for which "royalty fees" are required. That's a whole OTHER issue but one that is, I agree, equally "muddy". Seems to me that there are layers upon layers of bureaucracy and legal systems (both international AND domestic), the costs of operation and maintenance of which must be sucking most of actual royalties paid from the people for whom the fees were originally collected!

Not only that, but it also appears to me that it is these very "layers of bureaucratic systems" that are the ones who, in conjunction with the huge recording labels, are most devoutedly working to extend as long as possible their "right" to prevent ANYONE who hasn't paid their "toll fee" from using, referring to, modifying, copying, performing, distributing, etc. ANYTHING that they deem to be "theirs".

Now I know that someone is getting poised to start typing and "call me out" for apparently promoting the elimination of copyrights or performance fees. Far from it. Hang on a second and keep reading.

What I am trying to get a discussion going has to do with the need (or lack of need...depending which side of the debate you wish to take), for the rationalization, simplification, and universality of copyrights and performance rights when it comes to music. The Internet is forcing us to consider copyright and performance in a global context; we cannot afford to think "national" any longer (OK, not unless we live where our governments can actually "censor" the internet...ie, China...and even there it's only a matter of time). Our society and indeed our artists don't need a whole army of "legal experts" feeding off the "system" yet that is just what has been created.... and guess who created it? Yup.. those very same copyright lawyers! (Isn't it funny how our legal systems are really good at creating more work for themselves?)

OK, boys and girls... let the words fly!

"AND IN THE RED CORNER, WEARING RED TRUNKS AND REPRESENTING ALL GODLESS ANARCHISTS... WE HAVE THE CONTENDER!!!!"

03-31-2004, 05:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tootsall Fortissimo User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Yee HAW! Posts: 4,641	Well, Gus...you're getting into something else known as "performance rights" for which "royalty fees" are required. That's a whole OTHER issue but one that is, I agree, equally "muddy". Seems to me that there are layers upon layers of bureaucracy and legal systems (both international AND domestic), the costs of operation and maintenance of which must be sucking most of actual royalties paid from the people for whom the fees were originally collected! Not only that, but it also appears to me that it is these very "layers of bureaucratic systems" that are the ones who, in conjunction with the huge recording labels, are most devoutedly working to extend as long as possible their "right" to prevent ANYONE who hasn't paid their "toll fee" from using, referring to, modifying, copying, performing, distributing, etc. ANYTHING that they deem to be "theirs". Now I know that someone is getting poised to start typing and "call me out" for apparently promoting the elimination of copyrights or performance fees. Far from it. Hang on a second and keep reading. What I am trying to get a discussion going has to do with the need (or lack of need...depending which side of the debate you wish to take), for the rationalization, simplification, and universality of copyrights and performance rights when it comes to music. The Internet is forcing us to consider copyright and performance in a global context; we cannot afford to think "national" any longer (OK, not unless we live where our governments can actually "censor" the internet...ie, China...and even there it's only a matter of time). Our society and indeed our artists don't need a whole army of "legal experts" feeding off the "system" yet that is just what has been created.... and guess who created it? Yup.. those very same copyright lawyers! (Isn't it funny how our legal systems are really good at creating more work for themselves?) OK, boys and girls... let the words fly! "AND IN THE RED CORNER, WEARING RED TRUNKS AND REPRESENTING ALL GODLESS ANARCHISTS... WE HAVE THE CONTENDER!!!!"