Can Silence Be Copyrighted?
Comments: 3
Now this is funny. A producer who has included a track of a minute’s silence on a CD has drawn attention from John Cage’s music publishers, who seem to think there may be some infringement involved of Cage’s 4’33”.
Big noises at odds over the sound of silence
David Lister, The Independent“As my mother said when I told her, ‘which part of the silence are they claiming you nicked?’. They say they are claiming copyright on a piece of mine called ‘One Minute’s Silence’ on the Planets’ album, which I credit Batt/Cage just for a laugh. But my silence is original silence, not a quotation from his silence.”
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Posted to Oh, the Humanity • 2002.06.30 (Sun) • 10:31
Comments
Posted by tomas 2002.06.30, 20:36
Sigh Only in America..
Posted by Shawn 2002.07.02, 10:05
I won’t go until detail here… but this story is being blown out of context, quite frankly.
John Cage doesn’t believe in silence… there is no way he (if still alive) would have sued over this. What has happened is that Mike Batt gave John Cage a credit to a song on his album - Cage’s lawyers are merely going to tell Mike that Cage in no way co-wrote or produced this song and that he shouldn’t have given Cage credit… he should’ve written “Inspired by Cage” - true this is a really a waste of money and time… but they are not going to sue over silence… My blog has a little more detail for those interested.
Posted by mpupraha 2002.07.30, 04:16
hello, but the credit “Batt/Cage” does NOT refer to John Cage, but a pen name that Batt claims to use sometimes. If anybody has any valid information on this case, please send me links as I am compiling a copyright infringement archive.
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