A record label invents another way to squeeze money from its music catalog.
According to NPR, National Public Radio, “The most popular guitar teacher on YouTube saw his more than 100 videos yanked from the site” after a a record label accused him of copyright infringement for showing viewers how to play a Rolling Stone song.
This story is surprising even for the music industry who never ceases to come up with new and creative ways to define copyright infringement and to create new sources of potential revenue. The effort to make radio broadcasters now pay royalties to artists and labels in addition to composers and publishers comes to mind.
Now I’m sure even the Rolling Stones would be stunned to hear that a record label had resorted to such blatantly offensive means to “protect” its intellectual property but, even more surprising is the consistent lack of any sort of moral compass or consideration for the public good. Is a simple guitar teaching session really so great of a thorn in their side that they risk even greater damage to their reputation? Oh wait, I forgot that there’s not much left, and if there was it’s gone now.
I urge you to read more about the now defunct guitar teaching lessons, and perhaps even share my remorse that I didn’t have a chance to view and learn from some of the sessions while they were still around.
**ALSO READ: Coffee Shops Getting Copyright ‘Shakedown?’
“Florida coffee ships and other live music venues forced to pay royalty fees if performing artists play copyrighted music.”
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Now THAT should be fought over! A guitar lesson? COME ON!!
I think that a judge would probably give that teacher a victory in court. He broke no laws that I am aware of….unless now they are going to try to tell me that it is ilegal to use a copyrighted SONG just to teach guitar to someone.
I still do not think that would go over very well in court.
totally true. when you learn to play instruments you use books with copyrighted songs in them. suddenly its now illegal to allow someone else to see you play these songs you find in the books you purchase.
That is another thing…WHY is it LEGAL to buy guitar tab and music books with copyrighted songs in them and then not OK to make a video of yourself playing those songs on something like youtube? Just does not make any sense.
Like I said he could probably win this in court.
It just goes to show how DESPERATE the music industry is becomming!
Years ago this never would have happened but they are getting WAY too cocky now….it is time someone took them down a notch or two!
That is why I hope that the people who countersue the RIAA for extortion actually win because legally it could turn the tide against the RIAA.
Well at least this time they didn’t sue a dead man or a old lady without a computer in her house.
Well I guess Major Bands will no longer beable to do Covers of other bands songs either! Unless they pay up first!
@axlman….DON’T LAUGH….that might be next…seriously!
The only thing good I could see comming out of that is it would FORCE bands to write their own material and not copy everyone else. I think there is too much of that going on right now…which is why the music industry is in need of talent.
But if they start to enforce THIS kind of stupidity….they may see their talent pool shrink even smaller than where it is now!
Just a point: bands DO have to obtain permission to do a cover. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. “Shakespeare sues English teacher for teaching ‘Macbeth’ without paying royalties.” THAT would make about as much sense. The Rolling Stones should find it an honor that their songs are being used to give guitar lessons. What are teachers supposed to do? Write all their own songs to teach with? And how exactly is the RIAA losing money here? Do THEY give guitar lessons? I doubt it. Skunks! Put them out of business. Artists don’t need them any more. And certainly we–as consumers of the music–don’t need them either.
@Burd
I know it would seem that they are arguing that a lesson is a public performance. Its such a terrible argument that if proven to be within the law means that true copyright reform really is necessary.
Incredibly sad that ANY industry get in the way of learning.
After all budding guitarists might eventually be a record company’s biggest selling artist in the future.
All they care about is the clamp-down with no vision for the future… A bunch of A-holes is what they are.