What Should Copyright Law Be?

[JTJ]

I would like to read opinions on what copyright should be.

It's a big mess as it exists today in the US. Not sure bout other countries; not sure which has the best handle on it. That it is violated on so many levels, from individual to organizational, means it is not working well. Content creators and copyright owners are rightly due their just compensation. But without users willing to play, it becomes merely an empty exercise, scolds having little impact.

In my opinion, as a start, if the goal is to maximize royalty revenue, some loosening of the fair use rules must occur; copyright regs for commercial use must be distinct and different from amateur and/or non-profit regs, so that the many who violate the law have respect for the law and become self-policing. I think most of the copyright violations are among amateur music groups and musicians; and I think that if everyone hewed to the law obsessively, there would be far fewer works performed, and, indeed smaller sales revenues than today, because many works would be less well known.

[jeffo]

I'm looking forward to reading people's thoughts on this. Is there a way to get this topic moved out of the Misc eBay folder? I'm guessing it was put here by accident.

[pmeuph]

Originally posted by: JTJ

I think most of the copyright violations are among amateur music groups and musicians; and I think that if everyone hewed to the law obsessively, there would be far fewer works performed, and, indeed smaller sales revenues than today, because many works would be less well known.

An acquaintance of mine, a Choir Director, didn't know that he had to use copyright sheets for SOCAN. (The Canadian equivalent of ASCAP) He has extensive experince, having worked has a band director, a professional church music director, a gigging musician and as a composer/arranger. This makes me think that Copyright agencies, the AFM and Schools aren't doing enough in order to educate people about proper copyright law and such. For him, the choir director, he felt that if he purchased the music he could do as he pleases. (This is a community choir, but he is paid)

Also, companies are not always clear on the costs of copyrights for performances. I would like each music publisher, to specifically list the cost of performing/recording/broadcasting a work. The AFM works in a similar fashion, in which they dictate the minimum pay that should be payed for a gig determined on the venue.

i.e. If you perform a concert with a community band(non-profit) in front of XX people and the cost is less than X$ per ticket the cost to perform the work should be X$.
....etc....

This would greatly help the amateur groups. All information that I have ever heard about this has been after the fact information. That is, somebody had to contact the company and wait for their response and permission to program the work. And only after a while was the cost divulged, not beforehand.

If this is already in place, please show me were, but I have yet to find anything similar.

[prototypedenNIS]

well, for one. In Canada 50 years after the death of the composer, his/her works are public domain.

I don't know how messed up you guys got it so someone was able to get copyright on "Happy Birthday."