So, don't let them. That's the whole point of "representative democracy" - contact a Congresscritter, explain to them that this bill, if voted into law, would mean singing "Happy Birthday" on a family video could land the lucky family in prison, and hope that the two neurons still living in that besotted brain have a chat and come to the conclusion that this bill is farking stupid.

hatelabs: Considering the talent level of all the people singning on youtube,....this one might now be such a bad idea.
(Also you won't get arrested if you sing the "live in a zoo" version as it's parody)

I wouldn't be surprised if someone has trademarked that version, too.

So just use creative commons licensed music instead. There are plenty of artists out there who are happy for you to use their music under your youtube videos. Rather than biatching about the old system, doctorow should be promoting the new system. The one where artists allow everyone to use their creative content through creative commons, but still manage to pay the rent.

If it prevents another Justin bieber, its worth it.

FormlessOne: So, don't let them. That's the whole point of "representative democracy" - contact a Congresscritter, explain to them that this bill, if voted into law, would mean singing "Happy Birthday" on a family video could land the lucky family in prison, and hope that the two neurons still living in that besotted brain have a chat and come to the conclusion that this bill is farking stupid.

The only thing this democracy represents is who throws more money at it. Unless that letter has an 8 digit check attached to it for larger than what the RIAA paid to buy this law, good farking luck.

Where can I sign the petition to put "the Beeb" in jail?

Not that I've heard any of his music, I just don't like his haircut.

The entertainment industry is the most powerful in the world. One little word and BOOM! a new draconian law.

Would this kill karaoke night at the local bar? 'cus if so I'm torn. It would be a right stupid law, but dog I hate karaoke.

/Stop butchering songs I like you drunkin' assholes. You're makin' me want to cry.

Bucky Katt: Stop singing out of tune already.

That makes my ears bleed.

Come on, we can find a better reason than this to put Justin Bieber in jail.

If this becomes law every single person with a Youtube account needs to post multiple videos of them singing copyrighted material.

Since it would be a felony offense the government would have no choice but to charge 10 of millions of people under this law. The courts and even the prison system would not be able to handle the influx. And if they don't charge every single user that does it, every single person charged can defend themselves by claiming selective prosecution. It would be a nice and peaceful demonstration against the law and tyranny.

\all of the preceding comments calling for civil disobedience were made satirically
\\in no way do I endorse breaking federal laws
\\\if you try this, make sure that you understand that it won't work unless everyone does it and you could still end up in PYitA federal prison

Torqueknot: Would this kill karaoke night at the local bar? 'cus if so I'm torn. It would be a right stupid law, but dog I hate karaoke.

/Stop butchering songs I like you drunkin' assholes. You're makin' me want to cry.

Sorry, it won't. The bar pays an annual licence fee to ASCAP/BMI to cover song royalties.

rosebud_the_sled: Where can I sign the petition to put "the Beeb" in jail?

Not that I've heard any of his music, I just don't like his haircut.

Would it really be possible to jail the entire British Broadcasting Corporation?

/Only "Beeb" I recognize.

aegean: The entertainment industry is the most powerful in the world. One little word and BOOM! a new draconian law.

Indeed. We will all be dealing with the consequences of things like ACTA long after it ceased being relevant, especially with the chunks of it that presume guilt and require the aleged infringer to prove themselves inoccent. Because that kind of goes against the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing.

Keep creatin' those jobs, senators. I guess at least the extra several hundred thousand cops they'd have to have dragging every junior high garage band making covers to jail will mean jobs for most of us, not to mention people on subways with ringtones they made from copyrighted works.

I shall change my ringtone from DJ? Acucrack to *BONK* post haste. It will be a *BONK* I created myself by smashing my head into the wall at a not-previously-recorded frequency.

hatelabs: Considering the talent level of all the people singning on youtube,....this one might now be such a bad idea.
(Also you won't get arrested if you sing the "live in a zoo" version as it's parody)

Here's a thought: If you don't want untalented douchebags singing on YouTube, DON'T WATCH UNTALENTED DOUCHEBAGS SINGING ON YOUTUBE!

/Problem solved.

Not to say the penalty is extreme, but the bill only affects the sentencing of the already illegal use of copyrighted works for "commercial advantage or personal financial gain". Fair use seems to be unaffected.

/How it affects collage works like sampled music I don't know.

This doesn't make sense. Youtube already shut off my dogs singing to Bohemian Rhapsody because of copyrighted material.Why should they go to prison too.

I'm going to copyright the sound of breathing.

EVERYBODY GO TO PRISON!

Cthulhu_is_my_homeboy: I'm going to copyright the sound of breathing.

EVERYBODY GO TO PRISON!

I'm going to copyright the sound of filling out copyright forms.

/in other words, NO U

Imagine ticket prices will skyrocket to pay for the five-year incarceration of Utubers. You don't expect the taxpayers to foot the bill for music companies.

...and someone, somewhere, gets a Ferrari.

optikeye: "Happy Birthday" is copyrighted. Which is why resturants make up stupid songs.

They actually sing the real song at Red Lobster....

Weezer808: If it prevents another Justin bieber, its worth it.

No, it isn't.

/I hope you were kidding.

Anyone in Congress that votes for this needs to be executed for treason. I am serious. The souless asshole who introduced this bill needs to be executed as well and their assets siezed for wasting our time.

real_headhoncho: Weezer808: If it prevents another Justin bieber, its worth it.

Seconded. In fact.

[forums.playfire.com image 200x200]

Scruffy makes it official

How would this law affected the Bieber? Isn't he a filthy foreigner?

luidprand: Not to say the penalty is extreme, but the bill only affects the sentencing of the already illegal use of copyrighted works for "commercial advantage or personal financial gain". Fair use seems to be unaffected.

/How it affects collage works like sampled music I don't know.

Fair use is a defense that has to be used in court. In other words, be prepared to cough up some major dough to lawyers, even if you have a fair use defense.

Also, The Industry seems to be under the delusion that literally making any money at all (Through advertising) qualifies for that.

FirstNationalBastard: You just wait... you'll have to pay royalties on that song stuck in your head before they're done!

You mean this song?

Or this one?

Or how about this?

Perhaps you meant this song?

No? Then was it this that you had in mind?

/all these ear worms make me feel like partyin'

optikeye 2011-10-23 01:31:35 AM "Happy Birthday" is copyrighted. Which is why resturants make up stupid songs.
======================================================

Saves them having to pay a standard fee to AFTRA (sorry if I misspelled it).

As all bars and whatnot that host bands have to pay one because of the bands playing covers.

with the way the US economy is going, crap like this is going to destroy it even more.

I feel safer.

The neocons will obviously support this because it makes government smaller.

Can't wait to see this (new window) guy prosecuted. His performance was awful; must be tone deaf.

FirstNationalBastard: You just wait... you'll have to pay royalties on that song stuck in your head before they're done!

Didja know that you can make money from YouTube videos?

I was shocked to find that one of my friends is pulling in money from his YouTube channel. Get an audience and the advertising revenue sharing can get you four figures a month.

Going by how god-awful most YouTube covers are, I am not entirely upset by this. Horrific convulsion-inducing cacophony like that should already be punishable by law, regardless of copyright violations, as should karaoke. Unless you're good.

/Took the midnight train goin' annnnnyyyyywheeeeerrrrrrrrrrreee...