Posted on 02/02/2010 6:18:17 AM PST by Ebenezer
After a packed screening of the Saints' NFC Championship victory at Uptown's Prytania Theatre [in New Orleans], co-owner Robert Brunet has had hundreds of requests for tickets to view the Super Bowl at the historic theater this Sunday.
But instead of preparing for the game, Brunet has been haggling with NFL lawyers for more than a week after he received a cease-and-desist letter telling him that the free screening had violated copyright laws.
A similar story played out at the Sheraton New Orleans hotel, whose managers had planned a massive projection of the game on the side of the Canal Street hotel but eventually ruled it out because of legal concerns.
"It's a control issue," Brunet said. "From a purely technical and legal standpoint, the NFL has a right to do this. But at the end of the day, why does this even matter to them?"
In a city exhilarated by the Saints' Super Bowl run, bars, hotels and even movie theaters are looking for ways to bring fans together for mass viewings of the Super Bowl this Sunday. But many large screenings in New Orleans -- at restaurants, clubs, even on large projection screens at neighborhood block parties -- may run afoul of long-standing copyright laws that the NFL is keen to enforce during what is typically the biggest television event of the year.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
I can provide you with a list of businesses in PA that were subsidised. I invite you to come here, steal something from one of them and claim your argument.
The NFL wants people using its telecasts for public display to pay for the right. Is that so hard to understand?
Saints fans also have been using that chant since the 80s.
Sorry but again they can pound sand, they broadcast the event over TV, on a channel that pays for the rights by selling advertising. I signed no contract with them. If I have the TV on in my business and the Super Bowl is on a free to view channel then tough for them.
Same with viewing it at a church etc. These people want their cake AND eat it too. If they stop broadcasting it on a free to view channel then no problem. But they don't get both no matter what convoluted law they bribed congress to pass! And its time citizens put a stop to such overbearing regulation!
I see. You’re not interested in what the law is, but what you would have it be.
I’m not sure how you expect to protect any intellectual property you may have after trampling down the laws to get at another guy’s.
This is silly. If I watch the game at home but don’t buy from advertisers the NFL has gained nothing anyway.
Might be a problem as I haven't paid taxes to Penna. since 2006.
But if a business received welfare then a taxpayer using a product or service from said business should not be considered to be a thief since that taxpayer already helped pay for the product or service in question.
One problem with your premise.
The Super Bowl is on for Free on a Regular Network broadcast. As well as the local NFL games AND whatever game is the chosen National Broadcast each Sunday plus the Sunday night and Monday night games.
If they want to put restrictions on who can watch at what gatherings then they need to encode the signal and charge for it. But they want both income from commercials AND charge to watch the program as well. They can easily stop broadcasting on the Networks they have the Sunday Ticket system then they have all the rights in the world to decide who views their stuff, and I will back them up 100% for such!
I’m not sure how you expect to protect any intellectual property you may have after trampling down the laws to get at another guy’s."
OK lets us put the stake through the heart of that argument right now.
Are there unjust laws on the books? (usually put there by crossing the palms of some legislator(s)! )
How are they going to know what I’m watching? I may have the TV on, but I don’t have to watch their stupid game now do I?
By that theory, I as a taxpayer am entitled to your services for free, as I subsidized your education.
It actually originated at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. I remember it from the late 70’s. They had some great athletes come out of there.
I think people who believe buying merchandise with someone else's name prominently featured are sadly lacking in self-worth.
There a a few hundred people who can say"MY TEAM" because they do own a team;the fans who say "my team" are just being played for suckers by the owners.
Too bad more people don't actually go participate in a sport themselves rather than pay to experience vicarious thrills fromm the exploits of professionals.
So your contention is that the legal disclaimer about the telecast being only for the use of a private home audience is null and void?
Try to open up a dance club and do not pay royalties for the music that is played for “free” over the radio and see how long that lasts.
You do not seem to understand that intellectual property is as valid as solid tangible property.
“This is a GREAT way to lose fans and money.”
Yea, they’re on a downhill slope with whole “WHO DAT” thing.
I have family from N.O....and they’re pissed....big time.
I don’t believe laws protecting copyrights are “unjust” or the result of bribery.
Maybe you do.
This is a classic examples of “real economics” vs “pretend economics.” The real economics of the situation is that these parties, in a church, in a theater, in a restaurant, cause more people to watch their product. They cause more people to watch their sponsors advertisements. It is good for the “real economy” Unfortunately the NFL’s “pretend economy” is based on a ratings system that everyone (networks and advertisers) know is inaccurate. Set top boxes measure only if a tv set somewhere is turned on, and not who or if anyone is watching it. The new boxes are more complex and try to solicit user input to determine the crowd size and activity level but everyone knows they don’t really work, but since there is no other accurate way to measure viewership (and networks don’t really want one) they just continue to promote their “pretend economy.” Pretend Economies also do a lot to explain Democrat economic policies.
I'm not a business that is looking for a handout.
The point is no private business should get any welfare for any reason. If they want it, then they should be required to render services to the people who were forced to pay for their welfare.
Is your non-belief based on facts or just not knowing the facts?
Case in point copyright used to have a time limit. But the large media firms bribed Congress to pass new laws allowing indefinite copyrights. This is a matter of record btw.
And just because the NFL runs a little blurb stating you can't do something is not a basis for law. I can say that people can't take sat. pictures of my property and put them on the Internet but it doesn't mean they can't!
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