Music group sues NBC, US figure skating pair over use of song during Winter Olympics

[thvu]

This could explain why NBC Sports took down all of it’s Olympic skating videos.

Music group sues NBC, US figure skating pair over use of song during Winter Olympics

Heavy Young Heathens allege they were not contacted about the use of their music during the team figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics.

www.usatoday.com

 

[maatTheViking]

I thought ISU and USFSA had agreements with the copyright music orgs about song use?

Everytime a bad cover and IP has been brought up in the past, someone has pointed out that copyright is a non-issue for skating programs?

 

[VGThuy]

I thought ISU and USFSA had agreements with the copyright music orgs about song use?

Everytime a bad cover and IP has been brought up in the past, someone has pointed out that copyright is a non-issue for skating programs?

Usually they purchase a blanket license from orgs and doing that probably covers like millions of songs. But I guess not every song is covered and if it’s a niche or obscure cover of a song, the likelihood that it’s not covered increases. Maybe NBC will get the ISU to make a rule to stop using covers haha.

 

[skipaway]

Why now? They’ve been using it all season.

 

[maatTheViking]

Why now? They’ve been using it all season.

because I'm guessing these guys are not downloading the peacock app to watch Skate America...

 

[VGThuy]

Why now? They’ve been using it all season.

Most people don’t watch figure skating. They’re more likely to tune in during the Olympics that has millions upon millions of viewers.

 

[genevieve]

Why now? They’ve been using it all season.

Olympics have a much higher profile than other skating competitions. They probably just learned about it

 

[OrioleBeagle]

The band members are giving themselves negative publicity. I have already seen negative remarks from non-figure skating fans on social media about the lawsuit.

 

[crzesk8dad]

They feel that they should have been paid for the use of their music. How much money do they think that figure skaters have? They are getting a lot of free publicity for their band by having the music used during the olympics.

Ice rinks, NBC and USFS have agreements with ASCAP and BMI to play music for live performances. It does get trickier and costlier with replays on TV or You Tube or other streaming.

This article explains it well:

Do Olympic Figure Skaters Have to License the Music They Skate To?

Nathan Chen won gold against a backdrop of Elton John songs. But who shelled out for the music license?

www.mentalfloss.com

Maybe they are not part of those agreements and think there is a payday coming?

 

[once_upon]

Why now? They’ve been using it all season.

My guess is they smell money and name recognition and fame

 

[becca]

I know there was a Russian gymnast who had to change her program due to lack of licensing rights

 

[Rukia]

I know there was a Russian gymnast who had to change her program due to lack of licensing rights

Yes. And Kevin Reynolds had to change a program one year over issues with his music. But that's why I though feds or choreographers or someone had people checking the licenses. Maybe not.

 

[MacMadame]

Maybe they are not part of those agreements and think there is a payday coming?

Apparently, they have sued lots of people. Over their performance of a song in the public domain.

Yes. And Kevin Reynolds had to change a program one year over issues with his music. But that's why I though feds or choreographers or someone had people checking the licenses. Maybe not.

IIRC, the artist asked him not to use it? Which is different. But I could be remembering wrong.

 

[Rukia]

IIRC, the artist asked him not to use it? Which is different. But I could be remembering wrong.

Yeah I'm not interested enough in Kevin Reynolds to remember the details either oops so who knows

 

[tony]

Yeah I'm not interested enough in Kevin Reynolds to remember the details either oops so who knows

There was a dispute over the rights just prior to an NHK (2018) and he had like a week to switch to something else.

 

[sk9tingfan]

The fact that they did not pick this up until The Olympics, tells you that they are not figure skating fans. Nor are their lawyers. Knierim and Frazer started skating to it in November and announced its selection previous to that. Actually I think that none of them picked this up. I would venture to guess that an Olympic watching spouse or friend.

 

[overedge]

The fact that they did not pick this up until The Olympics, tells you that they are not figure skating fans. Nor are their lawyers. Knierim and Frazer started skating to it in November and announced its selection previous to that. Actually I think that none of them picked this up. I would venture to guess that an Olympic watching spouse or friend.

I think the only times this program would have been on broadcast TV are US Nationals and the Olympics. I seriously doubt that most musicians are watching the skaters' announcements of their program choices earlier in the year.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Looked at their website, they seem like exactly the kind of douchhebros that I was expecting. Also, earning $$$ for composing TV & movie music hardly qualifies as "indie."

 

[Barbara Manatee]

If they are that sue-happy, I'd guess they have search engines regularly scanning for use and mention of their music. It's likely they waited until the Olympic performance had aired because the giant audience would allow them to claim maximum damage and compensation.

 

[Frau Muller]

This could explain why NBC Sports took down all of it’s Olympic skating videos.

Music group sues NBC, US figure skating pair over use of song during Winter Olympics

Heavy Young Heathens allege they were not contacted about the use of their music during the team figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics.

www.usatoday.com

Didn’t a top German pair use the same music (same recording) as their free program not so long ago? It’s not as if K/F are the first to skate to this.

 

[Aceon6]

They are a copyright trolls. Similar to patent trolls, they acquire rights to something then hunt down anyone who doesn’t go through them to license. I doubt USFS or the ISU even knew these guys existed. They may have picked on the wrong violation though.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Looked at their website, they seem like exactly the kind of douchhebros that I was expecting. Also, earning $$$ for composing TV & movie music hardly qualifies as "indie."

When I saw the contact option, I had to restrain myself from sending them an irate message.

 

[Rukia]

When I saw the contact option, I had to restrain myself from sending them an irate message.

They'd probably sue you too

 

[jdonavan]

Asshats

 

[sk9tingfan]

Didn’t a top German pair use the same music (same recording) as their free program not so long ago? It’s not as if K/F are the first to skate to this.

Hasse(sp?) and Seegert in 2018 used the exact same music. And they were sued.

 

[sk9tingfan]

They'd probably sue you too

Yes. that's why I didn't send them that message.

 

[Rukia]

Although the good news is maybe now USFSA will nix any programs to this particular cover and we'll all be saved

 

[overedge]

They'd probably sue you too

"Weird Al" Yankovic - I'll Sue Ya

Music video by Weird Al Yankovic performing I'll Sue Ya. YouTube view counts pre-VEVO: 6,166 (C) 2006 Volcano Entertainment III, LLC

www.youtube.com

 

[MacMadame]

I think the only times this program would have been on broadcast TV are US Nationals and the Olympics. I seriously doubt that most musicians are watching the skaters' announcements of their program choices earlier in the year.

Also Skate America

Hasse(sp?) and Seegert in 2018 used the exact same music. And they were sued.

When? Because if it was in 2018, wouldn't someone know this when KniFra announced they were using it?

 

[sk9tingfan]

Also Skate America


When? Because if it was in 2018, wouldn't someone know this when KniFra announced they were using it?

Perhaps I'm wrong. I saw reference to this elsewhere in the forum.