More Tortuous Torture Tales

Well, it seems that the American's use of music to torture alleged terrorist prisoners is an issue that just won't go away. It has even given rise to FOIA requests. One of the songs that was used, apparently, was one of my all time favourites, the Meow Mix commercial:

The aggrieved artists who are protesting include Pearl Jam, R.E.M., and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

As I've indicated before, there could be an issue as to whether ASCAP & BMI royalties are owed to the composers.

If ASCAP can chase after Girl Scouts to collect royalties, why not military prisons?

Now if the USA only had "moral rights" in its copyright law, which it says is so much better than Canada's, the aggrieved composers would have a good shot at getting an injunction. Yet another example of how much stronger and better Canadian copyright law is than that of the USA.

Notwithstanding what the new Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson, who has wasted no time in becoming misinformed, is saying.

HK

Torture Royalties Redux

Well, it seems that my "presumably with tongue firmly planted in cheek" and insouciant question as to whether there should be copyright royalties paid to ASCAP and BMI (the big American performing rights collectives) for the use of music to torture prisoners in Guantanamo, originally posted here on July 3, 2008, has gained some attention on some prominent blogs and in main stream media.

Here's what I said then:

Certain collectives are quick to collect money from those in nursing homes, hospitals, prisons etc. on the basis that these are "public" places. Never mind that the audience is captive and it's their home, like it or not.

Well, it turns out that music is used at Guantanamo for torture purposes, according to the BBC.

Singer David Gray has warned that US interrogators playing loud music as a form of torture - including his own song Babylon - is no laughing matter.

"Only the novelty aspect of this story gets it noticed... Guantanamo greatest hits," he said.

"What we're talking about here is people in a darkened room, physically inhibited by handcuffs, bags over their heads and music blaring at them.

Leaving aside the legal niceties about whose law if any applies in that dreadful place, one can only wonder if ASCAP might not want a piece of the action. After all, it went after the Girl Guides not so long ago. And if it could try to make a buck off Girl Guides, who are nice people, why not alleged terrorists? Why should terrorists enjoy free music?

This has been picked up by:

Techdirt here on July 8, 2008.

And here by Wired here on July 8, 2008.

And in The Guardian on July 9, 2008 here.

And Cory Doctorow on BoingBoing here on July 11, 2008.

And Freakonomics in the New York Times today, July 16, 2008 here.

etc.

Very interesting...

There is definitely nothing funny about Guantanamo - but sometimes there are lessons to be learned in parody, satire and black comedy...perhaps even in Canada...

To be continued no doubt...

HK