Ho Jeff, How're you doin'?
On 09-Apr-98 at 20:25:00, Jeff Edmonson wrote to Moderator about
new rules
 JE> How about the "Bono" bill?
I've not heard about this - I assume it's something peculiar to your
side of the pond?
 JE> If a band goes in a beer-joint and sings "Peaceful Easy
 JE> Feeling", do they owe money to The Eagles
This is a public performance and, strictly speaking, the
owner/organiser of the event owes money to the collection
organisation - PRS in our case, ASCAP in yours - not the artist/s.  
 JE> If a person sits down and performs a cover and/or converts a
 JE> song into Midi format, is it still theivery
Theft is a bit of a strong word to apply in this instance - perhaps
'unauthorised performance' might be a better phrase .
It depends on what you mean by 'perform' - if it is in front of a
paying audience, that would be a 'public performance' and fees would
be due.  Note that a paying audience does not necessarily have to
pay for a seat or whatever.  A performance in a public place (such
as a bar) would also be public.
If I sit at home and do a midi arrangement of a published work for
my own amusement, providing it is not subsequently performed in
public, no fee is required.  In this case a 'perfomance' would
include radio airtime, etc as well as a live performance.
Keep 'em comin'
Graeme in Dover, England
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