Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'

Subject: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 03:46 PM

Teens' 'Beat It' Parody Sparks Feud With Michael Jackson's Estate, Record Label

Teens at a Pennsylvania library had hoped to inspire kids to read when they transformed the lyrics of Michael Jackson's 1983 hit "Beat It" into "Read It" and posted it on the Internet.

Instead, they have a fight on their hands with Sony-ATV Records, which owns the rights to Jackson's song with his estate and refused to grant them permission to post it on the Internet.

It goes on to say Sony finally granted permission for the parody to be posted on the library's own website, but not on YouTube.

What's the difference?

And aren't parodies supposed to be free anyway?

Subject: RE: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 04:15 PM

Yeah! Don't you dare look at this.

Subject: RE: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 04:20 PM

Sony relented, and it's on YouTube

Subject: RE: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 04:57 PM

Well, that makes me happy.

Where do you suppose the instrumental part came from? It sounds rather professionally done. A karaoke track, maybe? What's the legality of that? Can you take a karaoke track, add your own vocal, and post it on the internet without getting the permission of the people who made the karaoke track? I wonder if Sony owned that, too?

Subject: RE: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Nov 12 - 08:42 PM

The ability of Yancovich to pull off a spoof and record "Eat It "....

lie in his original (accordian based) sound track.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

The kids learned a valuable lesson...research FIRST.

Subject: RE: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 03:45 AM

You'd think library staff of all people would be fully aware of the need to get copyright permission. What were they thinking of?

Subject: RE: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 04:23 AM

In the USA there is a defence of parody. I think it turns on "transformative use" but I'd have to check. Neither of those things is so in the UK.

Subject: RE: Sony blocks library's parody 'Read It'
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 09:27 AM

BobL,

What were they thinking of?

Well, they get much more publicity by staging a victory over Sony. That's how showbiz/propaganda works nowadays.