Have you ever seen that Monty Python skit where two mafia guys try to extort some protection money from an army base general?
Strangely (sadly?), this story (and a few others that I’ve heard of) makes me think of that skit. You open a nice little coffee shop and things are good. Shortly after, an ASCAP rep comes to your door ramming this ‘copyright infringement insurance’ contract down your throat.
It seems that even though the owners tried to reason with them arguing that they were local bands, they all played original music, and had no cover charge, there is only this ‘one size fits all’ kind of contract.
Check this part out:
The first letter from ASCAP, which Hopper received Nov. 13, included a general license agreement for Hopper to sign verifying that he was playing ASCAP-licensed music and agreeing to pay the fees to continue to play the music.
To sign that contract would be pretty damning. It basically implies that you admit you have been playing copyrighted music! I better get a law degree before I open up a coffee shop because, frankly, this is pretty ridiculous.
Would you sign this contract?
![Concert record: El Ten Eleven @ Orpheum [05/08/2009].
Dancey post-rock instrumental awesomeness!](http://28.media.tumblr.com/diz9W17jSnc4c1yqP8waHzKfo1_500.jpg)
