John Novack wrote: > Paul wrote: > >> The thread is about music on hold. Things such as playing local radio >> stations in a waiting room are not related. I don't think there is anything >> illegal about using normal over the air radio and TV for such purposes as >> long as it stays in the local market area. >> >> It is ALL copyright infringement, on hold or in a waiting room. >> >> That is the US law. Some may not like it, and are free to attempt to change >> it >> >> It really doesn't matter if one is ignorant of the law, the liability is >> still there. >> >> There is PLENTY of royalty free music available for Asterisk or any >> other device. No need to risk ones business by doing otherwise. Why do >> you think Digium chose to NOT distribute copyrighted music? >> > > http://www.connectionsmagazine.com/articles/2/212.html
Lots of information around about people who've had issues with rebroadcasting the radio in their business establishments. However, it is rare that ASCAP et al go after anyone but the big moneymakers. The old Bloom County rule still holds true: sue the one with the money. For instance, in 2005, Dennis Rodman ran afoul of ASCAP because he was playing music over the speakers of his restaurant. Even HE complained rather often that it seems ridiculous that the only way to get permission to play music over the speakers of your local establishment is to pay utterly prohibitive licensing fees to ASCAP each year, but there's little that someone so public could have done to avoid being noticed. Mom 'n' Pop shops are less likely to be noticed or fooled with simply because they have a limited visitor base and a low profile as well as not having the money to license the music should it become an issue. Your average Mom 'n' Pop shop isn't going to pay the $20,000 per song no matter WHO threatens them. They'll just cease playing music over their PA or on their hold music. This would equate to a waste of time and money on the part of the ASCAP, SESAC, or other such agency that's in the business of making money, so it's less likely to ever get further than a POSSIBLE cease and desist letter. You pays your money and you takes your chances. If you're a high-profile company, you're far better off buying royalty-free music in the first place and just going with that. Alternately, you could write your own. All our on-hold music was written by our employees specifically for use on the on-hold system. It's a way of showcasing our local talent pool, and the composers are happy to have music in syndication (of sorts). N. _______________________________________________ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
