O O Ø O O O O
Copywrong
Getting a mighty weight off my chest.
The Society of Composers, Authors and
Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
41 Valleybrook Drive
Toronto, Ontario M3B 2S6
Dear SOCAN;
I’m so sorry.
I have to confess. I took part in a violation of copyright last weekend.
I couldn’t help it. Everyone was doing it. I just wanted to feel like one of the crowd.
I didn’t think much of it until I read that story about the dentist offices—where people are playing the radio without properly compensating the artists. Then I started thinking about all those starving artists, and well, my conscience couldn’t bear it. I realized that I, too, had violated the public performance statute.
Truth be told, I don’t know why they let people buy those things. Sure, once in a blue moon someone may have a legitimate use for one, but honestly, the rest of the time they’re just used to violate copyrights. They should have some kind of tariff on there, so that the artists can get remunerated.
I am talking, of course, about guitars.
There we were, innocently sitting around a campfire, when unthinkingly, I brought out my guitar. Sure, it started with some innocent strumming, but soon, a recognizable song drifted out. I think it was something by Eric Clapton.
And then, all hell broke loose.
It was like a dam bursting. People started asking “Do you know such-and-such,” and before you could say “Kumbaya sucks,” people were singing. I can’t speak for any of the others, but I’m pretty sure none of them had permission from the artists to do so.
I feel just terrible.
Clearly, something has to be done about this problem. We can’t allow just anyone to pick up a guitar and start performing other peoples’ stuff. Maybe some kind of tariff on guitar sales? Or wait, even better: a tariff on guitar strings! That way, the more they play, the more they pay.
So, to help mend by tortured soul, I have enclosed a little money to pay for my transgressions. Please see that it makes it to the appropriate artists. I’m not sure what the going campfire rate is, so I’ve included all the Canadian Tire “Money”® I could scrape up. (Canada Post tells me never to mail cash). It works out to around $0.85. It used to be more, but Canadian Tire had this sale going on, and I needed a few things for around the house.
Anyway, thanks for your attention in this matter. Please pass along my apology (and the “money”®) to the relevant artists, and let me know about that strings tariff idea.
Sincerely,
Kjell Wooding
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
PD DCLXIII
P.S. I caught myself humming along to the radio in the car the other day. Do I owe you anything for that, or is it only a public performance if someone hears me?