BIG TROUBLE!!!!!! It's all over now lads. - Guitars101

FRETPICK · 12-18-2005, 06:53 PM

Song sites face legal crackdown

By Ian Youngs
BBC News entertainment reporter

Generic guitar picture
Unauthorised guitar tabs and other musical scores are widely available
The music industry is to extend its copyright war by taking legal action against websites offering unlicensed song scores and lyrics.

The Music Publishers' Association (MPA), which represents US sheet music companies, will launch its first campaign against such sites in 2006.

MPA president Lauren Keiser said he wanted site owners to be jailed.

He said unlicensed guitar tabs and song scores were widely available on the internet but were "completely illegal".

Mr Keiser said he did not just want to shut websites and impose fines, saying if authorities can "throw in some jail time I think we'll be a little more effective".

Bitter battles

The move comes after several years of bitter legal battles against unauthorised services allowing users to download recordings for free.

Publishing companies have taken action against websites in the past, but this will be the first co-ordinated legal campaign by the MPA.

The MPA would target "very big sites that people would think are legitimate and very, very popular", Mr Keiser said.

"The Xerox machine was the big usurper of our potential income," he said. "But now the internet is taking more of a bite out of sheet music and printed music sales so we're taking a more proactive stance."

Music publishers and songwriters will consider all tools under the law to stop this illegal behaviour
David Israelite
National Music Publishers' Association
David Israelite, president of the National Music Publishers' Association, added his concerns.

"Unauthorised use of lyrics and tablature deprives the songwriter of the ability to make a living, and is no different than stealing," he said.

"Music publishers and songwriters will consider all tools under the law to stop this illegal behaviour."

Sandro del Greco, who runs Tabhall.co.uk, said the issue was not serious enough to warrant jail time and sites like his were not necessarily depriving publishers of income.

Learn

"I play the drums mainly but I play the guitar as well. I run the website and I still buy the [tab] books," he said.

"The tabs online aren't deadly accurate so if someone really wants to know it they'll buy the book.

"But most of the bands I listen to don't have tab books to buy so if you get them online, that's the only way you can really learn it unless you work it out yourself."

The campaign comes after lyric-finding software PearLyrics was forced off the internet by a leading music publishing company, Warner Chappell.

'No alternative'

PearLyrics worked with Apple's iTunes, searching the internet to find lyrics for songs in a user's collection.

"I just don't see why PearLyrics should infringe the copyright of Warner Chappell because all I'm doing is searching publicly-available websites," PearLyrics developer Walter Ritter said.

"It would be different if they had an alternative service that also provided lyrics online and also integrated [with iTunes] like PearLyrics did. But they don't offer anything like that at all."

A Warner Chappell statement said the company wanted to ensure songwriters were "fairly compensated for their works and that legitimate sites with accurate lyrics are not undermined by unlicensed sites".

"We have requested that PearWorks provide us with information regarding the sources of their lyrics, and have further asked that they discontinue the service if these sources are operating without a licence."

**rjfoster** · 12-18-2005, 08:16 PM

Well, It's prbably not "over"..... The music industry tried to shut down mp3 sharing and its going on stronger than ever. The Feds made spam illegal, but I recieve more of it than ever. The software folks have cracked down on "pirating" but you can still get almost anything you want if you know where to look.

As soon as they get the sights aimed, the target moves... hehehehe It will never end.

Rj

FRETPICK · 12-20-2005, 04:17 PM

WELL SAID THAT MAN. YEP IT'S TRUE. DUDE IT'S GREAT.hehe

12-18-2005, 06:53 PM	#1
FRETPICK Starving Artist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: PORTSMOUTH Posts: 25	BIG TROUBLE!!!!!! It's all over now lads. Song sites face legal crackdown By Ian Youngs BBC News entertainment reporter Generic guitar picture Unauthorised guitar tabs and other musical scores are widely available The music industry is to extend its copyright war by taking legal action against websites offering unlicensed song scores and lyrics. The Music Publishers' Association (MPA), which represents US sheet music companies, will launch its first campaign against such sites in 2006. MPA president Lauren Keiser said he wanted site owners to be jailed. He said unlicensed guitar tabs and song scores were widely available on the internet but were "completely illegal". Mr Keiser said he did not just want to shut websites and impose fines, saying if authorities can "throw in some jail time I think we'll be a little more effective". Bitter battles The move comes after several years of bitter legal battles against unauthorised services allowing users to download recordings for free. Publishing companies have taken action against websites in the past, but this will be the first co-ordinated legal campaign by the MPA. The MPA would target "very big sites that people would think are legitimate and very, very popular", Mr Keiser said. "The Xerox machine was the big usurper of our potential income," he said. "But now the internet is taking more of a bite out of sheet music and printed music sales so we're taking a more proactive stance." Music publishers and songwriters will consider all tools under the law to stop this illegal behaviour David Israelite National Music Publishers' Association David Israelite, president of the National Music Publishers' Association, added his concerns. "Unauthorised use of lyrics and tablature deprives the songwriter of the ability to make a living, and is no different than stealing," he said. "Music publishers and songwriters will consider all tools under the law to stop this illegal behaviour." Sandro del Greco, who runs Tabhall.co.uk, said the issue was not serious enough to warrant jail time and sites like his were not necessarily depriving publishers of income. Learn "I play the drums mainly but I play the guitar as well. I run the website and I still buy the [tab] books," he said. "The tabs online aren't deadly accurate so if someone really wants to know it they'll buy the book. "But most of the bands I listen to don't have tab books to buy so if you get them online, that's the only way you can really learn it unless you work it out yourself." The campaign comes after lyric-finding software PearLyrics was forced off the internet by a leading music publishing company, Warner Chappell. 'No alternative' PearLyrics worked with Apple's iTunes, searching the internet to find lyrics for songs in a user's collection. "I just don't see why PearLyrics should infringe the copyright of Warner Chappell because all I'm doing is searching publicly-available websites," PearLyrics developer Walter Ritter said. "It would be different if they had an alternative service that also provided lyrics online and also integrated [with iTunes] like PearLyrics did. But they don't offer anything like that at all." A Warner Chappell statement said the company wanted to ensure songwriters were "fairly compensated for their works and that legitimate sites with accurate lyrics are not undermined by unlicensed sites". "We have requested that PearWorks provide us with information regarding the sources of their lyrics, and have further asked that they discontinue the service if these sources are operating without a licence."

12-18-2005, 08:16 PM	#2
rjfoster GUIT - AR - DUN!!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,253	Well, It's prbably not "over"..... The music industry tried to shut down mp3 sharing and its going on stronger than ever. The Feds made spam illegal, but I recieve more of it than ever. The software folks have cracked down on "pirating" but you can still get almost anything you want if you know where to look. As soon as they get the sights aimed, the target moves... hehehehe It will never end. Rj __________________ Click HERE to listen to my Guitar Radio Station! ------------------------------------------------ Find answers to all of your music related questions quickly! Guitar Amplifiers ---------> CLICK Electric Guitars ----------> CLICK Bass Guitars --------------> CLICK General Music Equipment ---> CLICK Famous Rock Bands ---------> CLICK

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12-20-2005, 04:17 PM	#3
FRETPICK Starving Artist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: PORTSMOUTH Posts: 25	WELL SAID THAT MAN. YEP IT'S TRUE. DUDE IT'S GREAT.hehe

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