Comments on: Music Publishers Now Suing Lyrics Sites And Their Execs | Techdirt http://www.webalongitude.com/2009/08/26/music-publishers-now-suing-lyrics-sites-and-their-execs-techdirt/ Thoughts, reflections and renderings on the big easy internet and beyond. Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:49:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bill Maier http://www.webalongitude.com/2009/08/26/music-publishers-now-suing-lyrics-sites-and-their-execs-techdirt/comment-page-1/#comment-695 Bill Maier Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:49:53 +0000 http://www.webalongitude.com/?p=385#comment-695 Seems fair that lyric sites that are making money should have to pay some kind of fee to the PRO's to compensate the writers and publishers for use of the copyrighted material. I get even more ticked off about the sites that put the lyrics up, and then don't even credit the writer(s), or worse yet when they incorrectly credit the artist with being the writer. Remember back in the day when people actually bought songbooks and sheet music?? No need anymore. Just print the lyric and go to youtube for a free tutorial on how to play the music! The technology is amazing. It's a great world we live in. But, I don't blame the publishers for going after their fair share from people who are making a living with websites that use copyrighted material without permission or payment. Heck, the bar I've been playing gigs at said that BMI and SESAC have been after them to pay 3000 a year for having live music one night a week. If they have to pay, then it stands to reason that these websites who are making money should have to pay also. It's a shame that they have to sue and get the bad publicity to come to an agreement, but that's just the way of the world these days. Seems fair that lyric sites that are making money should have to pay some kind of fee to the PRO’s to compensate the writers and publishers for use of the copyrighted material. I get even more ticked off about the sites that put the lyrics up, and then don’t even credit the writer(s), or worse yet when they incorrectly credit the artist with being the writer.

Remember back in the day when people actually bought songbooks and sheet music?? No need anymore. Just print the lyric and go to youtube for a free tutorial on how to play the music! The technology is amazing. It’s a great world we live in. But, I don’t blame the publishers for going after their fair share from people who are making a living with websites that use copyrighted material without permission or payment. Heck, the bar I’ve been playing gigs at said that BMI and SESAC have been after them to pay 3000 a year for having live music one night a week. If they have to pay, then it stands to reason that these websites who are making money should have to pay also. It’s a shame that they have to sue and get the bad publicity to come to an agreement, but that’s just the way of the world these days.

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