[HANASHIR:4118] Re: Universal Jewish Music License-A First Step

[Rabbi Richard Schachet <lvrabbi...>]

Although not a musician, I would like to see this come in to being.  I
think, once it is drafted and refined, it should be presented to UAHC, CCAR,
RA, United Synagogue and all Orthodx and Reconstructionist entities as well
for their acceptance and approval.
-----Original Message-----
From: Adrian Durlester <durleste (at) home(dot)com>
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Date: 10/mm/1999 5:49 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:4117] Universal Jewish Music License-A First Step


>I would like to propose an initial step to start this process of education.
>I am inmterested in forming an exploratory committee to begin the process.
>Although the long term goal will be:
>
>1. Establishment of a universal licensing agency for Jewish music (or
>affiliation with an existing entity.)
>
>2. Education of the Jewish world as to the appropriate Jewish response to
>the protection of and respect for copyright.
>
>I would like to propose an initial step that focuses more on the
educational
>process, based on what Ellen (and I know others) have started doing in
>educating the public regarding these issues:
>
>Drafting a statement of principles, citing both US and International
>Copyright law, but, more importantly, drawing upon Torah, Talmud and other
>Jewish sources that could become a pledge document which we, as a united
>community of Jewish professionals, would promulgate to the people who use
>our music, asking them to sign on to these principles and respect them as
>human beings and as Jews.
>
>As a community of musicians, we would all commonly distribute this
statement
>whenever and wherever we had the chance. Hopefully, the distributors and
>retail establishments would promulgate this document in their catalogs and
>on their web sites. We could, ultimately, approach the denominational
>organizations and/or rabbinic organizations to support and sign on to these
>statement.
>
>I know Sam Glaser put a statement regarding this issue in his songbook. If
>there was a universally agreed upon statement we could all include it in
all
>our songbooks, recordings, etc (or at least make reference to a web site
>containing the statement.)
>
>Ellen, et al, I would love to see some proposed text for such a statement
>shared with the list. If I can get his permission, I will also post a copy
>of what Sam has in his songbook. If anyone knows of other existing
>statements that might serve as examples, I love to see them shared as well.
>
>This is an issue that I do not wish to see die for lack of action or
>interest. Let us strike while the iron is hot.
>
>Adrian
>List-Owner, Hanashir
>durleste (at) home(dot)com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
>shamash(dot)org]On
>Behalf Of Ellen Allard
>Sent: Sunday, October 10, 1999 2:28 PM
>To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>Subject: [HANASHIR:4116] Re: Universal Jewish Music License
>
>
>I'd like to speak about something that Steve Brodsky brought up concerning
>educating people,  especially when we are trying to get them to change a
>behavior.
>
>How many of us have made tapes of recordings that we like? Is it okay to
>purchase a tape or cd, and after having made the original purchase, make
>copies of it to play in the car  or to give to a friend etc.? Or how many
of
>us have gone to workshops and collected sheet music that the presenter
>zeroxed
>for us? Is it okay to give out zeroxed copies of lyrics but not of the
sheet
>music?  Where do we draw the line?
>
>My husband and I present a music workshop for early childhood teachers at
>many
>secular educational conferences, after which we exhibit and sell our
>materials
>(tapes, cd's, songbooks). If I had a nickel for each instance when a
>teacher,
>standing at our booth, said to a fellow teacher, in a very audible
>voice...."You buy that tape and I'll buy this one, and then we'll make
>copies
>for each other" or "You buy the book and then I'll zerox the pages I want
to
>use", I'd have a  lot of nickels.  It's a very awkward situation, or at
>least
>has been awkward up until we began taking somewhat of a stand around this
>issue. And that's where the education piece comes in.  I don't believe that
>people do it with any malice intended. It's just that it's been done for so
>long, by so many people, myself included, with no questions asked, that we
>think it's ethically okay, a non-issue if you will.
>
>People will be slow to change, but we can help facilitate the change. One
of
>the ways we confront the issue is by talking about it at some point during
>our
>workshop. Although certainly we hope our workshop particpants will purchase
>our recordings and songbooks at our exhibit table, we don't take much time
>to
>"hawk" them during the workshop. We make a very brief announcement about
>their
>availability and answer questions anyone might have about them, but that's
>about it. However, in the last year or so, we've taken a small amount of
>time
>to ask people to be aware of the amount of time and professional training
>and
>cost that goes into producing our materials. We come right out and ask
>people
>to avoid making copies to give to other people. We explain that it is part
>of
>our livelihood and that we rely on people purchasing their own copies. It
is
>very awkward and sometimes I feel like I'm sticking my foot in my mouth,
but
>we think it's a n important part of educating people.
>
>I think this extends to our synagogues, to the places where we need sheet
>music. For so long, it has been acceptable practice to make copies of
music,
>that we don't even think twice about it. Plus, how many institutions have
>budgets that allow for purchasing individual copies of songbooks or sheet
>music? Or how many of them have created budgets for purchasing these
>materials
>because it is the right thing to do? Or maybe we might ask ourselves, how
>many
>of us have made a point of confronting our institutions and talking about
>the
>ethics of zeroxing copyrighted material? We all know that if we go to
>Staples
>to make multiple copies of copyrighted material (unless we use the machines
>ourselves), they won't make the copies. So, why is it okay for us to do it
>at
>our temples? I'm guessing that most of us don't want to take the time to
>confront our institutions AND we want to be able to teach the music without
>the hassles. So, we make copies. Like we've always done.
>
>The money denied the artist is certainly one issue. But there's also the
>issue
>of the legality as well as the disrespect we pay to the artist by not
>purchasing the materials.
>
>At the temple where I am thenew  religious school music teacher for grades
>4 -
>7, the principal asked the teachers to find two Jewish values with which to
>guide our classes. The first value I've chosen is kavod, respect. I expect
>the
>students to have kavod for the sanctuary in which we sing, for me as their
>teacher, and for the music that I carefully choose and teach them. I know
>that
>I also need to incorporate kavod into my life; to be a good role model for
>my
>students. I want to have respect for all of the great music that we are
>blessed with and for the composers who write it. Just exactly how does that
>kavod translate and where will we each draw the line?
>
>I applaud what Jeff has suggested and will do what I can to help educate
the
>people with whom I work and sing even if it does mean asking for help in
>extracting my foot from my mouth. Thanks for listening.
>
>Ellen Allard
>Worcester, MA
>
>
>
>



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