Copyright bits and pieces

A couple of interesting things this week relating to copyright.

Firstly, the National Party had to recall the DVDs it had produced to promote John Key because it contained music that was the same as or very close to a Coldplay track. See Faux Coldplay forces Key change - Stuff.co.nz and Key out of tune with Coldplay - NZ Herald.

And secondly, an article on the increasing tendency for the enforcers of copyright to go after everyday people who are oblivious of what constitutes copyright breach over ‘performance’ of a piece - in this case someone playing music in the background at their factory/store during a one-off sale. See Feature: For your ears only by Joanne Black | New Zealand Listener.

Fair enough in the first case, but in the second I guess it’s not safe to hum a tune in public any more?