Eric Jx Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 A very interesting story here. The former members of Men at work are being sued by the copywrite holders of the Kookaburra song. They claim the song "land down under" infringes on their copywrite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gryphon Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 If the copyright holders weren't even able to figure it out after 28 years one would think there is no case. Estonia 190, Korg TrinityPlus, Yamaha P90, Roland PK-5a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Stupid. If this wins then any jazz tune where the soloist quotes another song is illegal as well. Keep it greazy! B3tles - Soul Jazz THEO - Prog Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I agree with Jim here. The quotation is absolutely momentary and doesn't form any substantive part of the song itself - the flute phrase that is the song's signature is the initial figure, which isn't derived from the other song. Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Here's a comparison of the two songs from youtube. Pretty weak if you ask me... -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5130744/251652-main_Full.jpg And even more importantly, I've heard that Vegemite Sandwiches... are not very good. "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 It took Google and reading a Wiki article to understand that photo and its relevance to the thread. I guess I missed Men at Work growing up. No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonysounds Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5130744/251652-main_Full.jpg Wow....I've never seen a skidmark sandwich before. Here's hoping I never see one again. Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Jx Posted December 2, 2009 Author Share Posted December 2, 2009 Wow....I've never seen a skidmark sandwich before. Here's hoping I never see one again. First laugh of the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 It took Google and reading a Wiki article to understand that photo and its relevance to the thread. I guess I missed Men at Work growing up. I think they happened well after you grew up, Dave. "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Well, I'm still growing ... just not up. No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksoper Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Vegemite does, indeed, taste like absolute ass. 9 Moog things, 3 Roland things, 2 Hammond things and a computer with stuff on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phred Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 That's silly. The news broadcast says that it comes down to if it uses a substantial amount of the song or not... And the copyright holder says it uses 50%. However it's only a 2 second clip. How many songs quote a riff from another tune? I can think of several, and if I knew more jazz, I am sure I could think of more... I'm just saying', everyone that confuses correlation with causation eventually ends up dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Iverson Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 And a lot of times you're quoting from something you've heard without realizing which exact song it is - since so many tunes use similar melodic lines and chord progressions. Also, people often take someone else's ideas and change it around a little - certain Bach phrases have been utilized in jazz improvisation for years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 You can thank the Procol Harum spat for this, that's why it was 28 years in the making - once the judge ruled in favor of Matthew Fisher, it opened the proverbial can of worms for any successful song which bears any passing resemblance to an obscure one to be fair game in copyright court. A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 The Procol Harum suit was different because it involved a member of the band suing for his contributions to the song. This one - who knows it's Australian law - but if it were here in the States I can't see a favorable ruling as the outcome. About the Vegemite connection - you guys are on a tear this morning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonaldM Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 So, is every I-IV-V-IV progression a rip off of "Louie Louie"? I listened to the vid. Sorry, the flute version and the melody the kids are singing sound substantially different to me. And why did they wait 28 years? There are 10 kinds of people in the world...those who can read binary, and those who can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 The first time I ate a dab of Vegemite, I almost puked. That was also the last time I ate Vegemite. Nastiest "food product" ever invented if you ask me. Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Nastiest "food product" ever invented if you ask me. I dunno - you ever have Scrapple? dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5130744/251652-main_Full.jpg And even more importantly, I've heard that Vegemite Sandwiches... are not very good. They say the same about peanut butter. It's an "acquired taste". I prefer Marmite, which is essentially the same stuff, but not veggie. Not that I've had it in decades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I think the plaintiffs have a difficult case to make, even with more restrictive laws of Australia, and even ignoring the issues over whether they actually have rights to the original. The article states that they say that it's a 4-bar song, and the MAW tune uses over half of it. That's stretching the case. First, the 4-bar song has the same motif repeated twice, played a third lower in the second bar. The second half of the song, the "laugh, kookabura laugh", isn't used at all. The MEW tune quoted the motif, but shifted higher on the scale, so it doesn't literally match either of the two bars it's said to copy. So, at most, they copied ONE bar (the fact that that bar is repeated twice shouldn't carry much weight), and they didn't copy ALL of that. It copies the motion and the rhythm, but not the intervals. In the US, this would definitely be legal under "Fair Use". I doubt it'll hold water in Australia, either. This is just a gross money grab on the part of the plaintiffs, with no serious merit. I hope the Australian courts recognize it as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Vegemite's near-relative, Marmite, has been marketed here for several years now with an ad campaign themed on the "love it or hate it" theme. Personally, I like Marmite but don't care for Vegemite, which doesn't taste as strong or "beefy" to me. Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Nastiest "food product" ever invented if you ask me. I dunno - you ever have Scrapple? dB Scrapple is WORLDS better than Vegemite. Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus64 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Nastiest "food product" ever invented if you ask me. I dunno - you ever have Scrapple? dB Blasphemer! Scrapple kicks ASS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Klopmeyer Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 We could have a gross-out feast of Vegemite, Scrapple, and for dessert, haggis. Regarding Men at Work, it would be a real bummer to have this end up in favor of the kooky Kookaburra people. Like many have said, referencing another song doesn't make for good copyright infringement precedence. And I liked Men at Work a lot back then, by the way, though "Who Could It be Now" was my preferred tune of theirs. Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonysounds Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I saw them on their first (last?) tour of America, they headlined over INXS at Poplar Creek Music Theatre in Hoffman Estates, IL (closed). A great outdoor venue. We had 3rd row seats, and the MEN kicked butt. My gf wanted to go, but I thoroughly enjoyed them; great players, fun songs. INXS killed as well. That was their 1st tour of the US, and I did see their last tour of the US with Hutchence, and they hadn't lost it or their enthusiasm. Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonaldM Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 We could have a gross-out feast of Vegemite, Scrapple, and for dessert, haggis. R Haggis is inedible! I had some in Scotland once. Nasty stuff. If anyone recalls the movie Highlander, Ramirez (Sean Connery) asks McCloud (Christopher Lambert) what haggis is, and when McCloud tells him he says "That's revolting!" My wife thinks Haggis is a great name for a dog. There are 10 kinds of people in the world...those who can read binary, and those who can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogmonkey Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 That's F-ing stupid. Larrikin Music Publishing is a douche. I've played both those songs, and never noticed the "quote". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 If anyone recalls the movie Highlander, Great movie (but not the endless remakes). What guy hasn't wanted to impress a girl by stabbing himself and revealing he is immortal? Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 And I liked Men at Work a lot back then, by the way, though "Who Could It be Now" was my preferred tune of theirs. Mine was "It's A Mistake." Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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