Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Copyright question

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theaterbrat
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Joined: 3/27/05
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Topic: Copyright question
Posted: 9/24/05 at 9:40pm

Some people I know are doing "Wicked" and they are getting
people to play in the orchestra. And they are advertising, but I
am 99.9% sure they do not have the rights, as this is a group of
stuck-up teenagers. So is this illegal, and if so, who do I report
them too, so that they can be shut down or whatever.

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
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Posts: 1181

Posted: 9/25/05 at 12:05pm

Before you go about dobbing in!
Ask the question of them & give them the opportunity to verify that they have the authorised performance Grand rights!
It is logical they don?t, as the Pro show is still yet to tour.
However no matter what they say, I?m sure Wicked the Musical, has an official website & you could check it out there.
But you will find if they do attempt to advertise auditions & the production any where, you can be assured the Rights holder/ Agent will be right on to them, if they are not authorised. It can cost them dearly & individually.
Don?t just DOB in out of spite, as that has the very bad habit of turning around, to bite you on the back side later!

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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dougb
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Joined: 3/30/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 148

Posted: 9/26/05 at 11:37am

Stay out of it. The royalty houses do a pretty good job of finding out these things themselves. Who knows how it will come back to haunt you.

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tristanrobin
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Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 704

Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:08pm

actually, several years ago, I was cast in two productions
("Chorus Line" and "Tommy") which - as it turns out - were
TOTALLY illegal 'bootlegs.' We didn't know about it until the
final performances of the run - and only found out by accident.
To the best of my knowledge, the producers (a dance school)
were never caught, and simply made off with the proceeds of
two sold out runs, with nary paying a penny in royalties or
script/score rentals.

I didn't turn them in - I felt like it was too busy-body - but it really
offended me, and I still feel that they cheated the artists who
should have received their cut of the 'take.'

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Shatcher
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Joined: 2/21/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 251

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:13pm

rather than calling anybody about it why not just send in one of their adverts. that way no one knows it was you so no bite on the back side. also if this is a group of kids they will need to learn this lesson sooner rather than later. I was asked to SM a show once that the rights were not paid for. When I found out I simply refused to do the show. the director did get caught and the show was called off, however the company had already sunk a good size chunk of money into the production. I did not here what the fine was but I am sure it was sizeable.I agree with tristanrobin: the artist whose wrote the work should get their take.

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theaterbrat
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Joined: 3/27/05
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Posts: 0

Posted: 9/29/05 at 8:48pm

ok thanks
I have the emails of some people and i am planning on
emailing them this weekend.

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Author	Message
theaterbrat Player Joined: 3/27/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Copyright question Posted: 9/24/05 at 9:40pm
	Some people I know are doing "Wicked" and they are getting people to play in the orchestra. And they are advertising, but I am 99.9% sure they do not have the rights, as this is a group of stuck-up teenagers. So is this illegal, and if so, who do I report them too, so that they can be shut down or whatever.

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 9/25/05 at 12:05pm
	Before you go about dobbing in! Ask the question of them & give them the opportunity to verify that they have the authorised performance Grand rights! It is logical they don?t, as the Pro show is still yet to tour. However no matter what they say, I?m sure Wicked the Musical, has an official website & you could check it out there. But you will find if they do attempt to advertise auditions & the production any where, you can be assured the Rights holder/ Agent will be right on to them, if they are not authorised. It can cost them dearly & individually. Don?t just DOB in out of spite, as that has the very bad habit of turning around, to bite you on the back side later!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

dougb Celebrity Joined: 3/30/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 148	Posted: 9/26/05 at 11:37am
	Stay out of it. The royalty houses do a pretty good job of finding out these things themselves. Who knows how it will come back to haunt you.
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:08pm
	actually, several years ago, I was cast in two productions ("Chorus Line" and "Tommy") which - as it turns out - were TOTALLY illegal 'bootlegs.' We didn't know about it until the final performances of the run - and only found out by accident. To the best of my knowledge, the producers (a dance school) were never caught, and simply made off with the proceeds of two sold out runs, with nary paying a penny in royalties or script/score rentals. I didn't turn them in - I felt like it was too busy-body - but it really offended me, and I still feel that they cheated the artists who should have received their cut of the 'take.'
	IP Logged

Shatcher Celebrity Joined: 2/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 251	Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:13pm
	rather than calling anybody about it why not just send in one of their adverts. that way no one knows it was you so no bite on the back side. also if this is a group of kids they will need to learn this lesson sooner rather than later. I was asked to SM a show once that the rights were not paid for. When I found out I simply refused to do the show. the director did get caught and the show was called off, however the company had already sunk a good size chunk of money into the production. I did not here what the fine was but I am sure it was sizeable.I agree with tristanrobin: the artist whose wrote the work should get their take.
	IP Logged

theaterbrat Player Joined: 3/27/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 9/29/05 at 8:48pm
	ok thanks I have the emails of some people and i am planning on emailing them this weekend.
	IP Logged

Topic: Copyright question( Topic Closed)