Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 00:23:45 -0500
Subject: Re: PUPT: Re: music rights?


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I believe Dave is being a bit simplistic about this issue.  If the puppeteer
is paid for their work and they have used someone's copyrighted music in a
show, they are responsible to procure rights.  Sometimes that involves a
fee, and sometimes it doesn't.

Performing a full show in theatres and schools is very much different from a
singer-songwriter singing a Dylan tune in a bar that has a blanket license
for such music. If that same singer-songwriter decides to record that Dylan
tune on a CD (for which they get paid per unit), then they are liable for
giving Mr. Zimmerman his due fees.

In our theatre, we present over 300 performances per year by about 75-100
companies.  Are you suggesting that it is our responsibility to research
which music is used by each of those performers and pay their fees for such
usage?  I think not. We pay a fee to the performers, and they are
responsible for their own research and legalities.

There may well be some leeway for those who do not get paid for their
performances, but even then it is a courtesy to the artist to request
permission.  How would you feel if an imitator decided to "borrow" an idea
or design of yours without appropriate credit or compensation?

Karen Larsen
Artistic Director
Puppet Showplace Theatre
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HTML VERSION:

I believe Dave is being a bit simplistic about this issue.  If the puppeteer is paid for their work and they have used someone's copyrighted music in a show, they are responsible to procure rights.  Sometimes that involves a fee, and sometimes it doesn't.  

Performing a full show in theatres and schools is very much different from a singer-songwriter singing a Dylan tune in a bar that has a blanket license for such music. If that same singer-songwriter decides to record that Dylan tune on a CD (for which they get paid per unit), then they are liable for giving Mr. Zimmerman his due fees.

In our theatre, we present over 300 performances per year by about 75-100 companies.  Are you suggesting that it is our responsibility to research which music is used by each of those performers and pay their fees for such usage?  I think not. We pay a fee to the performers, and they are responsible for their own research and legalities.

There may well be some leeway for those who do not get paid for their performances, but even then it is a courtesy to the artist to request permission.  How would you feel if an imitator decided to "borrow" an idea or design of yours without appropriate credit or compensation?

Karen Larsen
Artistic Director
Puppet Showplace Theatre