24 February 2006
A form of "identity theft" i can really get indignant about
Well, yeah, the kind of "identity theft" most of us think of when we hear that term is bad enough.
But:
The Bard said it.
Money is nice. You can buy things with it.
Fame is fleeting, often as not -- "Yeah, that and a dollar'll get ya a cuppa coffee..."
But in the industry, if you have your good name, you can often make money. If lousy counterfeits are out there, soaking up the money and, quite possibly, giving lousy shows and making you look bad, then you are scrod.
If your state isn't and isn't one of the states that already has such a law in place, rattle their cages and ask that one be introduced...
But:
'50s and '60s Bands Aim to Stop Copycats"Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing. ‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed."
Associated Press
Doo-wop and rock 'n roll legends are asking lawmakers across the country to stop performances by some not-so-great pretenders.
There are hundreds of bands touring the country these days claiming to be The Platters, the Drifters, the Coasters or some other group from the '50s and '60s, according to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon, Pa.
Most of them have no ties to the original artists.
The Bard said it.
Money is nice. You can buy things with it.
Fame is fleeting, often as not -- "Yeah, that and a dollar'll get ya a cuppa coffee..."
But in the industry, if you have your good name, you can often make money. If lousy counterfeits are out there, soaking up the money and, quite possibly, giving lousy shows and making you look bad, then you are scrod.
The Hall of Fame is working with numerous states to pass "Truth in Music" legislation. It would allow state attorneys general to stop an impostor band performance with an injunction and seek civil penalties of up to $15,000 against impostor bands and those who promote them.If your state is considering such a bill, why not write, call or e-mail your state legislaticritters and ask them to vote for it.
Earlier this week, Pennsylvania's governor signed a bill into law. South Carolina and North Dakota now have comparable laws on the books. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Nevada and Missouri are debating the issue or are expected to take it up soon.
If your state isn't and isn't one of the states that already has such a law in place, rattle their cages and ask that one be introduced...
Mary Wilson, an original member of the Supremes, said she knows of some original acts that can't get hired in Las Vegas. The venues would rather hire the knockoff bands because they're less expensive, she said.And it's a damned shame. ¶ 6:19 PM
"They're taking our history but they don't have our DNA," she said. "It really is a form of identity theft. It really is."
