Big Music chases woman for singing out loud
p2pnet news view | P2P | Music:- Back in July p2pnet posted about BMAT, a Spanish company which was promoting new software which, it claimed, could track live performances and “reinterpretations of copyrighted works” on- or offline.
With user generated content, “you have people people singing in their houses, songs, and until now, they have been unable to be identified,” stated BMAT CTO Pedro Cano. “But now, with our solution they can be identified. Same with live concerts, and same with professional re-interpretations.”
The rumour that shower heads would soon come with pre-fitted microphones linked to the RIAA’s HQ shouldn’t be entirely discounted, we said.
Now, “A shop assistant who was told she could not sing while she stacked shelves without a performance licence has been given an apology,” says the BBC.
“Sandra Burt (right), 56, who works at A&T Food store in Clackmannanshire, was warned she could be fined for her singing by the Performing Right Society (PRS).
“However the organisation that collects royalties on behalf of the music industry has now reversed its stance.”
PRS snoops accused her of putting on a “public performance,” says the Daily Record, going on:
“They told Sandra she could face a four-figure bill, or even a court case, if she didn’t pipe down.”
But, “It’s ridiculous,” the story has her saying, adding:
“What’s the world coming to when Big Brother wants to charge you for singing a wee tune? I sing all the time. It’s just a spontaneous, happy thing. I’m a naturally happy person.
“They’d have to put tape over my mouth to stop me.”
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
p2pnet – Sued for singing in the shower?, July 1, 2009
BBC – Apology for singing shop worker, October 21, 2009
Daily Record – PRS threaten gran with four-figure bill – for singing to customers in shop, October 15, 2009
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October 21st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
ok this is a joke right…right?
October 21st, 2009 at 12:42 pm
^^ Nope. No joke.
Cheers!
October 21st, 2009 at 2:05 pm
They probably reversed their stance based on fears of what could happen if they went forward, ie: no one buys anything from them.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
They’d squeeze a nickel out of a toddler for singing London bridge is falling down.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
“They’d squeeze a nickel out of a toddler for singing London bridge is falling down.”
Sony attempts to do that every few years, in regard to “Happy birthday to you.”
Pitiful.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
OMG!!!!!!!!!! where is this world going to?! This article really shocked me!
October 21st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Even if it’s NOT a hoax, it’s definitely a joke.
October 21st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
“no one buys anything from them.”
I am not buying anything from them already.
What would be the next step as a punishment?
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 am
that would mean that music schools would have to close and in 1 or 2 decades no musicians would be alive.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:31 am
This is a DAMN Shame! What happened to land of the free?? Singing is uplifting for many people, Now I guess the government wants everyone to be depressed! “F” Them! Keep up with your singing! I love to listen to anyone with a beautiful voice!
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 am
If any kind of sound waves are in the air, in my house, like radio waves, tv, police radio, satellite, etc, and I pick them up on whetever contraption I happen to have, on purpose or not, then it is my right to hear those sounds. True?
Songs are sounds.
If your song is floating around in places where my ears can hear it, and it is picked up by my brain, I cannot stop my brain from processing it and whoops – it comes out of mouth at anytime in the form of singing or a whistle.
That is my right.
If you truly want to protect your song, do not let anyone hear it. Simple as that.