[net.music] PBS anecdote

ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (12/21/84)

A friend of mine told me that a friend of his, who is a composer,
had a work of his used by PBS as background music without his
permission.  When he complained, he was told that PBS was exempt
from the copyright laws, and that they could use anyone's music
without permission.

This story, if true, is ablutely infuriating.  Can anyone else
corroborate or contradict it?

abh6509@ritcv.UUCP (A. Hudson) (01/05/85)

> A friend of mine told me that a friend of his, who is a composer,
> had a work of his used by PBS as background music without his
> permission.  When he complained, he was told that PBS was exempt
> from the copyright laws, and that they could use anyone's music
> without permission.
> 
> This story, if true, is ablutely infuriating.  Can anyone else
> corroborate or contradict it?

This story is true. We involved in college radio ( a non-profit
organization ) have the same priveleges.
						Andrew@WITR

						Andrew@WITR

Ron Natalie <ron@BRL-TGR.ARPA> (01/05/85)

Actually, this is not quite the truth.  While you may use the copyrighted
music, you are still subject to paying the licensing fees to ASCAP/BMI/SESAC
and the like.  Most college radio people are ignorant of this fact because
the college station is usually covered in a campus wide contract that includes
playing records at campus social events, concerts, etc...It was also decided
about five years ago that even AM carrier current fell under this category
(you can see why this is, since playing the music over the PA system in student
union is also subject).

-Ron

gordon@cae780.UUCP (Brian Gordon) (01/11/85)

In article <1464@ritcv.UUCP> abh6509@ritcv.UUCP (A. Hudson) writes:
>>      ...     When he complained, he was told that PBS was exempt
>> from the copyright laws, and that they could use anyone's music
>> without permission.
>> 
>> This story, if true, is ablutely infuriating.  Can anyone else
>> corroborate or contradict it?
>
>This story is true. We involved in college radio ( a non-profit
>organization ) have the same priveleges.

This seems strange to me.  Lots of years ago (mid 70's), I did two series
of educational TV shows for a State University, and used consistent
theme music for each series.  Although there was no fee - it was all
paperwork - we were delayed from broadcasting one of them until we got
permission from the copyright owner of that music.  Have the laws changed
*that much* in recent years?

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