ARTISTS SPEAK OUT
.STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
"A lot more goes into a CD than
it may appear. The price of a CD
doesn’t just go back to the record
company. Everyone who works
with me to record and distribute
my music makes a living and
supports their families from CD sales as well. It’s a
big network of people from my co-producer, the
engineers, my band all the way to assembly line
people who help to manufacture the CDs and the
truck drivers who get them to the stores. There are
now legitimate websites that provide an alternative
to illegal burning. I want to encourage my listeners
to use these sites and to buy instead of burning
illegally. On behalf of the team who works alongside
me, we’d appreciate it."
.STACIE ORRICO
"As an artist it can be discouraging
that people don’t realize how
much time and effort you put
into making and promoting a
record. I’ve found that in both the
Christian and mainstream markets,
the misconception is the same - everyone thinks
that as soon as you have a song on radio, you are
living glamourously. For many of us, that is far from
the truth. There are many people that contribute to
my career as an artist and, when you participate in
illegal copying of music, you not only hurt the artist,
you hurt all the support staff that work with them.
I think I speak for most artists when I say that we
do this because we love music and we love people
- that is what motivates us to keep a hectic pace and
be away from our families. We need the support of
our fans and that includes your support by choosing
legal downloading."
.SHAUN GROVES
"Students I’ve spoken with adopt
a Robin Hood complex, saying
they’re stealing from wealthy
people and therefore it’s not
wrong. Perhaps artists should be more open with
their audiences, shattering the Lifestyles of the Rich
and Famous image. The reality is that my wife and
two kids live in an apartment. We drive 10-year old
Camrys, not BMWs. And what about the bands of
four or five guys signed to a small label, splitting
love offerings from weekend shows, buying gas for
their van, sharing a house or hotel room and working
as waiters or garbage men to make ends meet?
Very few artists I know are getting rich, and our consumers
need to know that so we can correct their
perception and obliterate their rationale for stealing
music. But even if I was outrageously wealthy…,
would it then justify someone illegally downloading
my music? Of course not."
WHAT IS COPYRIGHT?
The principle that the work one has created belongs
to the creator and should be controlled by them
is as timeless as it is global. Around the world, this
principle is encoded in law. “Copyright” is a term of
intellectual property law that prohibits the unauthorized
duplication, adaptation or distribution of a
creative work.
In the recording industry, there are usually two
copyrighted works involved:
- The copyright in the musical composition,
i.e. the actual lyrics and notes on paper. This
is usually owned by the songwriter or music
publisher.
- The copyright in the sound recording, i.e. the
recording of the performer singing or playing
a given song. This is usually owned by the
record company.
On the federal level, titles 17 and 18 of the U.S.
Code protect copyright owners from the unauthorized
reproduction, adaptation or distribution of
sound recordings, as well as certain digital performances
to the public. The penalties differ slightly,
depending upon whether the infringing activity is
for commercial advantage or private financial gain.
Under U.S. copyright law, “financial gain” includes
bartering or trading anything of value, including
sound recordings.
Where the infringing activity is for commercial
advantage or private financial gain, sound recording
infringements can be punishable by up to five years
in prison and $250,000 in fines. Repeat offenders can
be imprisoned for up to 10 years. Violators can also
be held civilly liable for actual damages, lost profits, or
statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringement,
as well as attorney’s fees and costs.
The online infringement of copyrighted
music can be punished by up to 3 years in prison
and $250,000 in fines. Repeat offenders can be
imprisoned up to 6 years. Individuals also may be
held civilly liable, regardless of whether the activity
is for profit, for actual damages or lost profits, or for
statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringed
copyright. For more information, please go to:
http://www.riaa.com/issues/copyright/laws.asp.
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© 2004 Christian Music Trade Association
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