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Article: Singing The Same Tune: Ninth Circuit Joins Second Circuit In Requiring Synchronization And Reprint Licenses For Karaoke Lyrics.(Law overview)
- Article from:
- Mondaq Business Briefing
- Article date:
- March 26, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Mondaq Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Addressing for the first time whether obtaining a compulsory license to reproduce musical compositions on karaoke machines also allows for song lyrics to be displayed in coordination with the music, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that a compulsory license does not include the right to print or display song lyrics with the recordings. Leadsinger, Inc. v. BMG Music Publishing, Case No. 06-55102 (9th Cir., Jan. 2, 2008) (Smith, Jr., J.).
Leadsinger manufactures an "all-in-one" karaoke player. Instead of using the traditional compact disc and graphic (CD+G) format, Leadsinger imbeds "song chips" containing songs and lyrics inside a microphone. ...