Finnish taxi drivers to pay royalties for backseat music

Finland's Supreme Court has ruled taxi drivers must pay royalty fees if they play music in their car while a customer is in the backseat.

The order even applies to the radio.

A case, based on one driver's refusal to pay, is likely to set a precedent for the 9,500 cab drivers in the country.

Under the ruling, a cab driver in Finland must pay £14 annually for playing music while transporting a fare.

Lauri Luotonen, chairman of the Helsinki Taxi Drivers' Association, says the ruling is likely to force most drivers to keep their radios off.

Recently, two Finnish churches refused to pay royalties to the country's copyright society for the performance of Christmas hymns. The congregations won their case in a district court, but the society has appealed.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_721008.html

In some ways, I see some similarities in attitude between the "Copyright Mafia" (as some would call them) and groups like PETA and Earth First-type entities. All of which believe everything else in the world (be they certain "endangered species" or copyrights) has more rights than you or I.

But this is yet another example of how the multinational corporations which *actually* rule the world seek to hoard every last nickel and dime (and foreign equivalents thereof) for themselves, not even leaving crumbs for the remainder of the populace.

thas a lame thing to do...pay royalties to play?

la la laaa la laa lla laa.... Don't worry RIAA pigs, the checks in the mail... !

This was unexpected. I would understand if they were to proclaim CDs in cabs are public performance, but radio is broadcast anyway. Surely the stations would be pleased about the extra advertiseing exposure? Someone must have let their lawyer off the leash again.

You have got to be shitting me!

Does this mean if I'm the fare and I'm playing my radio in the backseat I have to pay royalties? Do I have to pay royalties for every single person who heard any of the music?

As golden said, I could see this with non-broadcast material, but broadcast?? They've hit an all-time low!

Easiest way to assure you burn in hell: Sue a church

This is very odd. I would think the entire purpose of broadcast radio is to be heard in just such a circumstance. The Finnish are getting ultra-strange. This is near-mindless, and might actually serve a purpose for our cause.

We can tout this as the end-result of all this copyright and property litigation. If THIS is the ultimate end of their argument, then they will lose more backers, one would hope. This is simply insane.

NEWS FLASH!

The RIAA has announced that they now own the copyright on ALL sounds. Due to a new law, lobbied for by the RIAA, all citizens of the world must have devices implanted in their ear canal that will prevent them from "accidentally" hearing any music for which they haven't paid a royalty.

A wireless credit card payment system will be included, with a convenient belt clip, that will allow each person to instantly pay a royalty of $100/minute if they wish to hear anything.

only $100 a minute? I'm surprised they dont just lobby our workplaces to have a music listening tax added to our wageslips.

Well, its certinly going to annoy the radio stations. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to fight this now, claiming the license to broadcast music doesn't specify who gets to listen to it .

yeah, golden way to shoot radio in the foot

thereby shooting the artists in the foot

thereby shooting the record companies in the foot

also

that's a bunch a lame shit

and they know it

yeah, and um you have to pay a royalty for..uh, pooping

and when your dick hangs a bit to the left

Will the RIAA expect me to pay for the voices in my head...?

Will the RIAA expect me to pay for the voices in my head...?

In some ways, I'm not surprised. Some time ago, there was this discussion about music in departmetn stores. The stores would have to pay for piped music. If they used radio, there were some restrictions on how many people could listen to it at onece before they had to pay royalties.

Not cool at all. Is that not what you pay for when you buy a cd? And last time I checked Radio was free. At least in America. That would not fly hear. Not at all.

I could understand recorded music in cabs and stores, but would have expected radio to be free for everyone. Its a broadcast system. People are supposed to hear it. Very odd. Any attempt to charge royalties for playing a radio in a public place will really annoy the stations, who will annoy the labels. The artists wont come into this.

Shit I can't believe I missed this. THAT IS SOME FUCKING LAME SHIT!!
If they're trying to get more money, this isn't the fucken way.

Mikserimies!!!! Do something!!!!!! You are there!!!

kinda shitty but 14£ isnt that much.. stores and stuff have been paying to broadcast radio for a long time.. at least in parts of europe

soon it ll be forbiden even in a discman if you share speakers

Next they'll be frisking you as you leave the store with you're new (overpriced) CD asking you for another payment if you intend playing it. Wankers.

I wonder if it applies to stations outside Finland i.e. BBC World Service (I know this channel doesn't play music, just an example)