You know, sometimes Geeklawyer really is convinced that Darwinian evolution works in reverse. The more stupid selfish and greedy one is the more likely one is to succeed in the face of contumelious morals and behaviour.
You’d imagine fucking a small vulnerable worthy charity in the arse would be regarded as a bit of a no-no. You, may think so, but the dozy Darwin evading cunts at the PRS don’t seem to do so. Last year the historic Dam House in Astley made the chronic unforgivable error of having kitchen staff whos radio was audible to the public.
On that basis the PRS gestapo licensing thugs have claimed that this requires a public performance licence, or else:
“nice little charity you got here mate, shame if it got burnt down“.
Bingo, the PRS fuck them over for £230. This year it is even worse. Because the charities kiddies perform (copyrighted) carols to raise money, the PRS shysters want near double the fee: £470. Nice.
In part this continues a case the PRS is taking against Kwik-fit garages on the basis that it’s garage mechanics radios could be overheard by customers. David Harris has discussed the legality in more depth. Geeklawyer also regards the Kwick-fit case as bollocks.
This is illustrates the problems with collecting societies. They become monopolies who exploit both the public and the artists they pretend to represent. They become autonomous profit societies, little bureaucracies whose only job is to provide jobs for the faux-civil servants they employ. Income is squandered on salaries expenses and self serving conferences and jollies around the world. How much do artists get? Presumably if you are Eric Clapton a fair wedge, but if you are a struggling musician Geeklawyer would guess sweet fuck all.
Geeklawyer has been on a tour of the PRS many years ago and was unimpressed with the jobsworths and the waste of money.
One presumes the PRS salesman involved was on a productivity bonus and had shakedown targets to meet.
more grinches: Tesco are using the usual Health & Safety’ twaddle to boot carol singers off their premises. Classy.
Having followed your sweary blog for some weeks now, I’m stunned to see a post that actually mentions some Intellectual Property law, as promised in the tagline. When will normal service be resumed?
To be fair to myself I did fucking swear in this post too. And of course I’m sorry for mentioning IP but I cant promise it won’t happen again. Despite having a great love of IP I can’t resist talking about it. Or geeky stuff for that matter.
… Speaking of Grinches, why is it that I am not on your Student Friend list!?? I am Crushed!! ( at least I know Ruthie is happy to put up with me! * stirring*…)
Nothing personal I’m just too lazy unless I get hassled
Consider yourself added
Excellent blog. you stated basically what I told them when they called me. I just wondered how legal this PRS thing really is. The broadcasters pay royalties on the music they play - I don’t understand how they can then ask us to pay it again. To me the radio is an advertising medium for the artists to sell their work. Why should we pay for them to advertise? After being assualted with stealth taxes, oodles of new idiotic legislation and then some tosspot saying “Do you have a music licence for that radio I hear in the background?” it just seemed like the last straw and I gave them both barrels. How is this legal?
Do these “non-profit” totalitarian blood suckers demand a licence fee for Radio Four day time listeners? Does the shoe salesman get royalties for every stroll, jog, or amble? Does the dentist claim royalties by the meal, per chew, or per conversation? When will this nonsense hoovering up of moolah for now idle rich former pop stars be seen for what it is? Another jobs for life scam.