Hello wonderful people of Afri-Tune and Inleo Community and welcome to my entry for week 41: Music Theft. Honestly, I’m quite exhilarated to share my opinion on this topic. Also,I think this was the first time I looked at a topic and I did not have an idea of what I would write.
However, after taking an in-depth look at topic, I realized the issue of Musical theft is quite under emphasized so much so that I didn’t know until this moment that Musical theft can attract such massive penalty.
Penalties which could lead to paying of a huge fine and even imprisonment.Honestly, I didn’t know it could be that serious that one could serve jail time. Other penalties includes civil lawsuit for damage,loss of license, and the most common one contents will be taken down if it violates the digital millennium copyright act of 1998 .
Now, What Musical Theft?It comes indifferent forms such as:
Copyright infringement;
This is making use of an artist music without getting permission from the copyright holder (which could be the song writer or producers). Be it for commercials purposes or casually done. distributing or recording a copyrighted music Unauthorized is music theft.
Bootlegging;
This is also another kind of Musical theft where by a version of a song that has probably not been released is recorded for sales or sampled without permission from the copyright holders consent.
Plagiarism;
This is when one imitate another artist music and portrays it as theirs.
Digital Performance;
This has to do with uploading unoriginal Music online for streaming and downloading purposes without license.
Also, the last one which I didn’t know was a thing till now. Apparently, playingartist music in a public place like a bar, restaurant, a TV program, a radio or any other public space requires a license. Apparently it is called **Public Performance **or Commercial Use of Copyrighted Music.
Basically, any form of distributing, recording, or leveraging on one’s music unauthorized is musical theft.
After much research, I have come to realize that it is not just a very serious offense but also a very sensitive matter. With that being said let’s take a look at how musical theft affect the artist, the record label and the production in general.
After looking into this topic I realize how sensitive it is and how greatly music theft affect the victims involved. Musical theft doesn’t just bring about financial lost for the part involved, but also, it bring aboutpsychological damage. Artist or song writers may feel exploited and it can also lead to frustration. Imagine the time and effort put into making that one song just for some else to take credit.
It can also bring about a taint in the image of the artist or songwriter. When the song is used negatively that it contradict the message the artist intended to pass is also another way Musical theft can affect victims involved.In a nutshell, guess musical theft isn’t a trivial as I thought and I do now sympathize with artists who go through this. Prior to now I thought most of these copyrighted song were just over reacting by taking down content and suing brands that uses their music without permission but I guess I see why now.
Anyways a big thanks to the Afri-tunes and inleo initiate for a great opportunity like this to learn something new. Till next time I still remain your very enthusiastic writer
@gemangel.
