Celebrity News
WTF a sports bar gets sued for playing Taylor Swift music?
(HMG) — In what I would call a WTF report by TMZ, Taylor Swift who is pretty much on top of the world after dominating the 2009 Country Music Awards, is slapping a copyright infringement lawsuit spearheaded by BMI, the enforcer of music royalties, on a little Idaho country sports bar. The legal action seeking unspecified damages comes after BMI representatives allegedly sent an agent on a recon mission at The Sports Cellar bar sometime last year, and discovered the bar was playing music, including Taylor’s stuff, that they hadn’t paid for the right to play. They bar even had the nerve to include some of Swifts hits in their Karaoke line up. Since the details are sketchy I am gonna assume the sports bar probably purchased one of Taylor’s albums and played some of the tracks, versus buying a licensed Juke Box or Karaoke machine for example. I would even surmise Taylor is probably not even aware of this legal bullying being done in her name. But if her management or a representative of the Sports Cellar bar would like to give their side of the story we would love to report. Meanwhile I would call this action, penny wise and very pound foolish.
i so agree its just a song and wouldnt she like people hearing her songs is she really that poor that she needs to sue a little sports bar mann TAYLOR give it a break :\
BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC are songwriters organizations that make sure that songwriters get paid for their music. Businesses often play music to encourage people to patronize the business so that they can make more money. When they use someone else’s work, whether it’s music or a TV broadcast or whatever, they are expected to reimburse those who make a living providing the entertainment or service. Do you work for free? Makes it hard to eat unless you’re independently wealthy or are dependent on someone else.
Also, while BMI might focus on a few songs as examples, they only go after business that make substantial use of music. A small business with a stereo and only a few speakers is allowed to play copyrighted music for free. When it’s an important part of the business, they’re expect to pay or not use the copyrighted music. Isn’t that fair? A little research should be in order before commenting on topics you are unfamiliar with.