Klarinet Archive - Posting 000774.txt from 2000/01

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] music copies
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 19:44:30 -0500

Franklin Kercher related:

<<<As for copying music, my music professor stated that a few years ago,
some reps. from some publishing companies visited a few sellect schools from
high school to college to see their music files. They allegedly stated that
if the school had a file copy in their files and stamped with "file" in red
ink, they had no problem with photocopies being handed out to the kids
because they understood how often kids loose or destroy thier copies. But,
if they did not have a file copy of a particular piece in the files, they
were subject to suit. He also told us that some of the schools in the
Houston metro area had been nailed for swapping copies.>>>

I, too believe that this is an urban legend. Remember -- schools are the #
1 consumer of commercially printed sheet music. Publishers have long taken
the position that sheet music is a consumable -- if little Johnny destroys
the only tuba part you have for the Holst Second Suite, you are indeed
expected to purchase another individual part from the publisher. That's why
individual parts are available for sale.

Now, it may well be unrealistic to expect junior high bands to never
photocopy a part now and then -- but it's still illegal. The consequences
for the odd part found in a audit (which DO happen) probably are not all
that great. If, however, they find photocopies of entire pieces w/ no
originals, you will be fined, could lose your job, and perhaps get some jail
time as well. Stealing $500 of music is no different than shoplifting a
trumpet from the local music store--it's irrelevant that it's convenient, or
that your band doesn't have a budget, or that "everybody else does it."

Twenty years from now, I suspect that this will be a non-issue. Music
publishers will not sell sheet music, but site licenses; you will be able to
download the score off the internet, and print up all the parts your band
needs. Indeed, some are pioneering this today -- see
http://www.sunhawk.com. This is not the state of the market today, however.
Sheet music companies are not fantastically profitable; the marginal sale
lost is very important, taken together, probably represents whether or not
they turn a profit.

kjf

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org