🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <78670@aerospace.AERO.ORG> abbott@aerospace.aero.org (Russell J. Abbott) writes:

   What about the issue of performance of copyrighted materials.
   Presumably it is fair use to whistle a copyrighted song while walking
   down the street.  But it is not fair use to do so while presenting a
   paid performance unless one pays royalties.  What if the performance is
   unpaid?  Is it then fair use?  Presumably yes if there were no
   commercial or other money-raising benefit involved, e.g., charity, but
   presumably no if there were.   What if the audience made a payment that
   simply covered expenses, e.g., rent of the hall?

Some years ago, the Richmond branch of the Carringbush Public Library
had a VCR available to visitors.  Instead of borrowing video tapes,
you could view them in the library.  Then the cops came round, and
told them that allowing copyright works to be played in the library
constituted a public performance, so they had to stop.
--
				Zev Sero  -  zvs@bby.oz.au
Violence is not a pleasant thing. It has caused much suffering in the world
since its invention, and many are convinced that it is Quite A Bad Thing.
					- Steven Fruitbat Foster