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Deep Purple ordered to pay royalty to themselves
Published: 03 July, 2009, 04:36
A Russian court has fined Deep Purple for “illegally” performing their own songs. Bloggers have already called the decision “fantastic in its idiocy”.
Not sure of the logic or purpose of fining an act for performing their own songs, especially since this organization has no right to represent the composer! this could have a negative impact on Russian performances with artists re-considering tours there http://www.musicnewsnet.com/
No, Soviet Union died many years ago… but it’s still alive only in Russia. The fact is - Deep Purple was fined for playing their own material. That’s absolutely unbelievable for the rest of the world…but you believe it or not-that’s quite “legall” in Russia- The old money-making system, that’s simple… Particularly when it happens in the little provincial part of Russia, as it is Rostov-on-Don… So, generally I was shocked while reading this info… But then I thought - “Hey… It’s Russia, so why surprised?” Let the band hug Medvedev and Putin once more…
This is so stupid that I thought it was in America! Sounds like a typical bit of organized crime to me. "We represent you, even if you never told us to. Now pay up or we will have your fingers broken for not paying up." How on earth does one justify demanding that someone you never entered into ANY kind of agreement with representing you? It just doesn't make any sense. I hope the ENTIRE musical community tells Russia to go screw itself until this embezzlement stops. This just shows that America isn't the ONLY place where insanity rules.
It's a pity Russia Today so blindly trusted popular blogs on this, and printed the news without checking if it is true. Actually, it was the promoter who was sued, because they hadn't paid (had refused to pay?) performance royalties for the concert. Here's the court's decision, in Russian: http://forum.yurclub.ru/index.php?showtopic=233057
"We represent you, even if you never told us to. Now pay up or we will have your fingers broken for not paying up." Deep Purple members are the members of PRS. PRS told NGS to control the authors rights in Russia. What's the problem?
My God this is truly an act of idiocy at its greatest! Their demands of having a point of existance and legitimacy is making them look like the backside of a jackass. They will have everyone laughing at them for this foolishness and hopefully it doesn't hurt Russia being a destination for music groups. They better rethink their actions...