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That SongbookUnless you’ve been living on another planet you would have surely been hearing about the Fanatics songbook over the last couple of weeks.
Just 5 days prior to the commencement of play at the Gabba it looked like we were going to have to shred the recently printed 100,000 copies.
After a slight misunderstanding with our good friends at EMI, we’ve been reliably informed that the songbook isn’t in breach of any copyright laws and in turn the songbook is once ahead downloadable and fully legal.
Fantastic news for Aussie cricket fans the nation wide!!
So download yourself a copy of this summer’s most talked about collection of tunes now!!
Protecting Precious Parody in the Daily Telegraph
By Philip Ruddock
November 30, 2006 12:00
AUSTRALIANS have always had an irreverent streak. Our cartoonists ensure sacred cows don't stay sacred for very long and comedians are merciless on those in public life.
An integral part of their armoury is parody and satire - or, if you prefer, "taking the micky'' out of someone.
However, our copyright laws have until now done very little to protect the way people use others works or images to parody and satirise others in the name of entertainment.
I have a bill currently before the Senate which will ensure Australia's fine tradition of satire is safe.
There will be a parody and satire exception for what the law calls "fair dealing''.
In circumstances that are fair, it means that groups like The Fanatics will be able to parody popular songs in response to the Barmy Army.
It will mean they can encourage cricketers representing Australia by making a fair parody musical works such The Monkees' Daydream Believer and adding some clever lyrics. I understand the Village People's Go West and Robbie Williams's Rock DJ get the same treatment.
There are other elements to the Copyright bill, that are aimed at ensuring consumers are not treated like copyright pirates and copyright pirates are not treated like consumers. They include:
Making it legal for people to record TV or radio programs in order to play them at a more convenient time.
Legalising 'format shifting' of material such as music, newspapers, books - meaning people can put CD's they own onto their iPods or MP3 players;
Giving schools, universities, libraries more flexibility to use copyright material for non-commercial purposes; and
Helping people with disabilities access copyright material.
The new provisions in the Bill for consumers and for parody and satire will commence after Royal Assent in mid-December.
For parody that will be too late for the second Test, which starts in Adelaide tomorrow, but in time for the Boxing Day test in Melbourne.
That means the first place that The Fanatics and other supporters will be able to act without impunity is the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
They should be in full voice by the Sydney Test, which starts on January 2. I imagine a few people will be armed with their songbook too.
Given the way the first Test went, the series may be over by then. Either way patriotic Australians will be free to mock the British team without the threat of lawsuits.
The Government has ensured the use of copyright material for the purposes of parody or satire will be protected. To retain the law in its current form just wouldn't be cricket.
*Philip Ruddock is the Federal Attorney-General
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