Skinny Puppy Invoices US Government After It Played The Band's Music To Torture Gitmo Prisoners [Updated]
from the but-was-it-paid? dept
A few years ago, after stories started appearing about the US military playing loud music to annoy prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay, we were among those who wondered if the government paid royalties on those "public performances." We weren't the only ones, as at least some musicians who were on the playlist wondered out loud if they were getting royalties -- while, actually, being a lot more concerned about the whole situation, both the torture and the idea that their music was used as torture. Now, in a recent issue of the Phoenix New Times, in which they interviewed the band Skinny Puppy about its latest album, the band's founder explains that the name for the new album came from hearing that their music was being played at Gitmo, but also notes that they sent an invoice to the US government:"We heard through a reliable grapevine that our music was being used in Guantanamo Bay prison camps to musically stun or torture people," founder cEvin Key explains by phone from his Los Angeles home. "We heard that our music was used on at least four occasions. So we thought it would be a good idea to make an invoice to the U.S. government for musical services, thus the concept of the record title, Weapons."The wording there is a little strange, as it may be that the album is a metaphorical invoice, but it would be fascinating to find out if an actual invoice was ever sent... and if it was paid. Oh, and, no the band wasn't happy about all of this:
"Not too good," Key continues. "We never supported those types of scenarios. ... Because we make unsettling music, we can see it being used in a weird way. But it doesn't sit right with us."Update: Aha. Via Jason Leopold, here's the actual invoice for $666,000.
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Filed Under: copyright, gitmo, guantanamo bay, music, skinny puppy, torture
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Reminds me of survival school
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Where is the RIAA?
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Tomorrows news:
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Well yes, under TODAY'S interpretation of the law. Tomorrow?
Point is, I'm quite sure it never occurred to whatever agency runs that prison that they might have to obey every little law and regulation - let alone performance rights.
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so if you play music to someone else ( even in a private residence, and by any interpretation a torture cell is a private place) is that not a public performance - by ASCAP and BMI 's own rules?
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The moment it started playing, my dog (who is always sleeping next to my feet when I'm at my desk) left the room. Go figure.
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I once actually owned ...
But yeah their sound is dissonant and disturbing to say the least ... not surprised it's been used to torture people.
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I actually went to one of the shows on that tour, the one in Cincinnati. They certainly put on one hell of a show.
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After 30 years (1982-2014) these guys are still going at it.
I read another interview that they never actually sent the invoice, but it was the idea that inspired their latest album, "Weapon".
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Updated...
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$150K per song
$66K for lawyer to send notice.
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Ok now I'm not happy
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If they find this use of their music unsettling, like their music, does that imply that it is their kind of use?
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It's also nice to know that I'd be immune to their torture.
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Publicity stunt. Probably nothing owed.
If they actually want to sue, the hurdles are higher for suing the federal government for infringement than private parties. And they'll be limited to minimum statutory damages.
Obviously they can object to whatever they want, but copyright is not a tool to silence all uses you disagree with. We might not like the use, but this is borderline copyright abuse.
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Re: Publicity stunt. Probably nothing owed.
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Stepping on the wrong toes.
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Or tell you what, you abolish copyright and we will do the same for fair use.
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