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Copyright, Entertainment Lawyers to Discuss Music’s Fair Use vs. Infringement

Monday, November 15, 2010

Chicago, IL -- What rights do politicians have to use popular music at their live events? Are these public figures, who vie for our votes so that they can uphold the law, actually breaking the law by using music in their advertisements without permission? Do these uses qualify as fair use? In light of the recent election, a number of political candidates were sued for their use of music while campaigning without the proper permissions.

The American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law presents “The Politics of Fair Use: A Practical Discussion of Fair Use Principles Using Recent Examples of Popular Music in Political Campaigns,” this Wednesday, Nov. 17 in a teleconference/webcast format. Copyright and entertainment lawyers will lead the discussion on the fair use of music and the distinction between fair use and infringement.

“Politicians Often Tone Deaf to Songwriters’ Rights,” featured in Landslide, the section’s magazine on intellectual property law and related issues, provides further detail on the growing number of politicians—from President Barack Obama to Sen. John McCain—who have been cited for the unauthorized use of copyrighted music in their campaign efforts.

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