Copyright ruling makes school band performances expensive

From what I've read so far, it is going to be awful. I do know if you change something with 7 distinct changes, the copyright does not apply from the original work. I can see why there are different versions of songs where the words aren't the same, and I'm sure some of the notes aren't either the same. But with all things legal, who is going to enforce the law? Civil lawyers will or can, and always have been able to file against someone. Unfortunately, the burden of proof lies on the copyright holder who files suit against someone.

Wish it was an idea, but it is law, the law of copyrights. For years, copyright law has been ignored a lot. As I was thinking earlier this evening, when you buy a piece of sheet music, what are you buying if not the right to use it as you see fit? But what happened in this case was a college band director went all the way to the Supreme Court with a case about music they played in a performance that they were being sued over paying royalties to the copyright holder. He tried to defend himself with the public domain defense and he lost. A band who performs their own original work, has no problem. But what about even classical music who you don't even know if there is still a copyright on it? The band director conservatively estimates it will cost him a minimum of $800 for each performance of his college band and the school cannot afford that.

As I understand it, without reading the ruling but going by the news report, there is no "public domain" exceptions. That means all the postings on YouTube done without permission of the person with the copyright, are in violation of US Law. All performances of any song that has been copyrighted, no matter how minor, are in violation. We think the courts are full of law suits now, imagine what this could mean. Imagine what it would be like for all the performers trying out for American Idol or for Idol to pay all the fees on the songs performed!! Ouch!!

Right or wrong isn't the question, it is a matter of the letter of the law. The Supreme Court only interprets the law. Unless congress finds a law that makes exceptions, there are none.