Klarinet Archive - Posting 000380.txt from 2002/11

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] page turns
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 23:02:00 -0500

> From: Bill Hausmann [mailto:bhausmann1@-----.net]
> At 08:17 PM 11/7/2002 -0500, Mark Charette wrote:
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Bill Hausmann [mailto:bhausmann1@-----.net]
> >
> >It seems to me that these screens were discussed here some time
> ago, and it
> >was suggested then that the "copyright police" would have a screaming,
> >hairy FIT over the digital reproductions of the music that would be
> >required by this technology.
> >----
> >Not really. The owners of the copyrighted material just have to
> figure out
> >how to charge you for it.
> >
> >The copyright owner might be Disney or the owner might be you, so who
> >exactly are the "copyright police", anyway?
>
> The "copyright police" are whoever would be figuring that they should be
> able to shake down performers for use of such technology. Yes, composers
> are entitled to their just compensation, but charging people for merely
> changing the FORMAT of the printed music will effectively kill,
> or at least
> severely delay, potentially useful ideas such as we are discussing.
>

Copyright doesn't involve the technology. As was noted in the article,
_patents_ have been granted - that's something totally different. Copyright
involves the ownership of rights to the _music_ (and the performance
thereof). Changing the format _does_ involve permission (and possible
payment) to the copyright owners - that is their right in the US. Just as
having to compensate the owner of the music when you create an arrangement
of it.

The technology used for display and control of the format is patentable.

Mark C.

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