27 March 2009

Why Everyone Hates the PRS

Another classic post from Mike Masnick about the absurdities our current copyright regime visits upon us:

PRS has now threatened a woman who plays classical music to her horses in her stable to keep them calm. She had been turning on the local classical music station, saying that it helped keep the horse calm -- but PRS is demanding £99 if she wants to keep providing such a "public performance." And it's not just a one-off. Apparently a bunch of stables have been receiving such calls.

That's pathetic enough, but it's Masnick's parting shot that really struck me:

The group seems to believe that playing music in almost any situation now constitutes a public performance and requires a licensing fee. You just know they're salivating over the opportunity to go after people playing music in their cars with the windows down.

Because you know what? I bet the PRS is really considering how to do this.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This post literally brought tears of laughter to my eyes.

I guess the "entertainment industry" is truly living up to its name.

Glyn Moody said...

Must be the first time in years that the PRS has actually had a positive effect, then....

Jaakko H. said...

... and this wasn't posted on April 1st ...

Makes me laugh and cry at the same time.