S: http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/scot ... copyright/Posted Oct 14th 2007 5:27AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Portable Audio
Sure, you may get yourself a ticket from local police if you roll around with that in-car stereo cranked, but at least you're not being sued for £200,000 ($407,680). Unfortunately for the Edinburgh-based Kwik-Fit automotive repair center, it actually is being taken to court for that astronomical amount by the Performing Rights Society, which "collects royalties for songwriters and performers." The PRS alleges that "Kwik-Fit mechanics routinely used personal radios while working at locales across the UK and that music, protected by copyright, could be heard by colleagues and customers." Astoundingly, Lord Emslie ruled that the case could actually be heard, so we guess we'll be relying exclusively on headphones from here on out.
The record industry is really desperate for cash these days. They're just causing costumers to be disgusted by their actions. What's next we can't carry a boom box or portable media player with speakers, crank up the volume in our car stereo or risk being sued by the record industry for royalties. This is so ridiculous.
I hope the law suit doesn't make it to trial, or the car shop wins.
I thought radio was suppose to be free???