What would anyone believe writers should not be paid to reproduce or perform their works for financial gain. I don;t understand the issue. Anyone who doesn't believe they should get paid should perform ONLY their own songs and see how many gigs come their way.."Griffin repeatedly rebuffed efforts to get him to enter a license agreement...."

No sympathy here. One cannot use music in their business for profit without licensing it.

Songwriter OWN the music. They license the music. Thats how they make their living as songwriters. The guy in the example was warned.

Music isn't free. Few play and perform for free. Support the writers who provide popular music one plays to make their living. They deserve it. Not everyone can achieve a hit song that gets requested over and over in a local pub.

Music is not free. It is licensed.

The problem in negotiations comes after the fact. When the performer or venue owner tries to escape the rules. They are in a very weak position with regard to the courts AFTER they have already used the music without permission for profit. Most businesses don't have a problem with the PROS. A few who try to skirt the rules become headlines.



[This message has been edited by Kingfrog (edited 02-28-2009).]