Subject: DEB ACKLEY _ HFA_BMI_ASCAP From: "Enchante`" Date: Thu, Feb 18, 1999 00:04 EST Message-id: <[email protected]> From: Deb Ackley Subject: ALERT: Harry Fox Agency's Future Plans Hello , This is probably the most difficult message I've ever written. I've just learned from a very reliable source tonight that the Harry Fox Agency has plans to begin lawsuits against MIDI site owners in the near future for infringing on music publishers' copyrights. This will apply to all MIDI site owners who have not paid the applicable licensing fees to ASCAP, BMI and the Harry Fox Agency for music that is still under copyright (usually any music that is less than 75 years old.) As most of you already know, I removed MIDI Haven due to another reason, but I have no plans on bringing it back online due to the above reason. In case you aren't aware of this, the Harry Fox Agency was the force behind shutting down the International Lyrics Site and confiscated the site owner's computer equipment. They will begin going after most or all MIDI sites in the near future. This is the hardest part: If you wish to avoid legal action taken against you, you should probably remove any MIDI files that are less than 75 years old if you have not paid the applicable licensing fees. You can go to the following sites and do a search for any song title to see if the songs that are on your sites are listed as being copyrighted. http://www.ascap.com http://www.bmi.com http://www.nmpa.org If you are a MIDI sequencer, here is a site (the Lester S. Levy Collection) where you can download 26,000 sheet music files for songs that are over 75 years old: http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/ Please pass this message on to anyone you think may be interested. My best regards to everyone, Deb Ackley