International Law

From Girl Scouts to Ringtones

By Howard Knopf, Esq.

In the USA, ASCAP, who once tried to license Girl Scouts for singing around camp fires, is now taking the position that when a ringtone is heard in public, that's a public performance. ASCAP won't sue the phone owner but want's to add another layer to the payments already being made behind the scenes. This is beginning to sound rather like Canada.

So before whistling or singing in public, as the late Michael Jackson said, in another context, "Remember to always think twice." SOCAN, ASCAP's cousin, already goes after buskers via cities, transit commissions, etc.

Best thing is to be safer and just whistle a happy tune from Verdi, Puccini, Bach or Mozart.

HK

Full post as published by Excess Copyright on July 03, 2009 (boomark / email).