A little while ago we penned a not very respectful post about a group of idiot academic musicologists trying to prevent the US from playing loud music at terrorists (because it hurts their ears... aww). Now the actual musicians are getting into the act of trying to prevent the US from winning being patriotic dissenters:
"As early as May 2003 the BBC reported that the US Army had used Metallica's Enter Sandman and Barney the Purple Dinosaur's I Love You in the interrogation of Iraqi detainees, playing the songs repeatedly at high volume inside of shipping containers." She also finds mentions that the US Army used music by Christina Aguilera, Eminem (Slim Shady, White America) and Dr Dre. Stafford Smith adds to this list Aerosmith, Don McLean and Bruce Springsteen (Born in the USA). Bruce Springsteen has already shown a willingness to defend his 'brand': he fought and lost a trademark dispute involving a cybersquatter. According to Stafford Smith, he has the opportunity, with other musicians, not to have their music used by US government to torture unlawful enemy combatants, to sue under copyright law.... Musicians can use their moral rights (Article 6bis of the Berne Convention) to object to the derogatory treatment of their work to prevent any similar further use and claim compensation for the damage to their honour and reputation.
Do you get the feeling that, far from being anti-war, some musicians are actually on the other side? Shouldn't they be spending their time punishing grandmothers and toddlers for downloading copies of Coldplay?
References:
* Liberal Academics: Making Terrorists Listen To Bad Music Is Off-Limits [MR]
* Fighting torture with copyright [The Register]
Previously:
* Petition To Support Ambassador Mazel
* What's Good For the Goose...
* Equal Opportunity Terrorists
