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How long until recording companies crack down?

Blogs > Mattson
Post a Reply
Mattson
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Canada188 Posts
July 30 2012 00:12 GMT
#1
I watch lots of streams and some of them play copywritten music. Stephano and Idra routinely listen to the Beatles.

Normally if you want to broadcast music you have to pay something called a licensing fee.

When will the companies crack down? Are steamers protected under fair use?

Cynicism isn't wisdom; it's a lazy way to say that you've been burned. Seems if anything you'd be less certain after everything you ever learned.
Iranon
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States983 Posts
July 30 2012 00:17 GMT
#2
There was a giant thread on this a few months ago (the first google result for "streamers fair use"). Unless things have changed, the official answer is no, it isn't allowed, but it seems unlikely to land you in legal hot water.
Mattson
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Canada188 Posts
July 30 2012 00:22 GMT
#3
On July 30 2012 09:17 Iranon wrote:
There was a giant thread on this a few months ago (the first google result for "streamers fair use"). Unless things have changed, the official answer is no, it isn't allowed, but it seems unlikely to land you in legal hot water.


Does this mean that every streamer is technically breaking the law?
Cynicism isn't wisdom; it's a lazy way to say that you've been burned. Seems if anything you'd be less certain after everything you ever learned.
Iranon
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States983 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-07-30 00:31:43
July 30 2012 00:31 GMT
#4
On July 30 2012 09:22 Mattson wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 30 2012 09:17 Iranon wrote:
There was a giant thread on this a few months ago (the first google result for "streamers fair use"). Unless things have changed, the official answer is no, it isn't allowed, but it seems unlikely to land you in legal hot water.


Does this mean that every streamer is technically breaking the law?


As far as I know, yeah. Emphasis on the technically, of course. Even things like streaming Pandora radio probably falls in hazy legal territory, since it's basically the same thing as restreaming a TV show; when you put things on your stream you're simultaneously recording a copy (which anyone can access at any time later on) and distributing it to a mass audience without any sort of rights to do so. I agree that it's ridiculous, and the entire recording industry is a dying business model that should focus more on figuring out how to survive in the information age and less on how to sue random teenagers for liking their music, but that's where we are right now.
EtherealDeath
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States8366 Posts
July 30 2012 00:31 GMT
#5
On July 30 2012 09:22 Mattson wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 30 2012 09:17 Iranon wrote:
There was a giant thread on this a few months ago (the first google result for "streamers fair use"). Unless things have changed, the official answer is no, it isn't allowed, but it seems unlikely to land you in legal hot water.


Does this mean that every streamer is technically breaking the law?

Yes actually iirc.
corpuscle
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
United States1967 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-07-30 00:33:36
July 30 2012 00:32 GMT
#6
On July 30 2012 09:22 Mattson wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 30 2012 09:17 Iranon wrote:
There was a giant thread on this a few months ago (the first google result for "streamers fair use"). Unless things have changed, the official answer is no, it isn't allowed, but it seems unlikely to land you in legal hot water.


Does this mean that every streamer is technically breaking the law?


Yes, if they play music without a license.

It's a question of whether it's worth it to the companies to go after them, though. It's not like P2P sharing or re-hosting audio on Youtube because it's not really cutting into their bottom line... nobody's saying "well I want to listen to the Beatles but instead of buying their album I'm going to watch Stephano's stream until he plays some."

edit: that's not to say they won't go after streamers... the RIAA is not known for being a sane organization that only files logical and non-frivolous lawsuits
From the void I am born into wave and particle
munchmunch
Profile Joined October 2010
Canada789 Posts
July 30 2012 00:45 GMT
#7
They will almost certainly go after streamers at some point. In most Western countries they already have organizations which collect licensing fees from businesses which play music for their customers. So for example, a small coffee shop which wants to play CDs for its customers, or even just host open mic nights, needs to get a license. So from their perspective, a streamer will definitely require a license.
Mattson
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Canada188 Posts
July 30 2012 01:02 GMT
#8
In Canada you actually have to pay licensing fees to play music at your wedding... and if anyone dances the fee doubles.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/music-played-at-public-events-to-be-subject-to-new-copyright-fees/article4219846/

I have a friend who owns a bar and he has to pay about 100 dollars a night in licensing fees... it is part of the reason why he actually hosts live bands as much as he can as opposed to DJ's.
Cynicism isn't wisdom; it's a lazy way to say that you've been burned. Seems if anything you'd be less certain after everything you ever learned.
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